"We once asked the composer, also a great friend, to write something for the cello and piano. We love the idea and here we are," Thibaudet says.

Thibaudet and Capucon are old friends of the Beijing Music Festival. Thibaudet can still recall the first time he played an outdoor concert during the festival in the city in 2005, "which was very cold", the pianist says.

Capucon also notes that premiering a new piece creates excitement and anticipation among audiences. It offers a one-of-a-kind experience. This sense of discovery helps draw in both seasoned concertgoers and new audiences curious about novel music.

"I enjoyed Jiu Ge when I watched the performance in Guangzhou and I particularly like the sound of the erhu, an instrument I adore. Maybe there will be a new piece for the cello and erhu," Capucon says. "For us instrumentalists, it's our mission to play music pieces. These new pieces often foster collaboration between composers, performers and the audiences, creating bonds between cultures."

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn