Lyu Jia celebrates his 10th year as the music director and principal conductor of the China NCPA Orchestra in Beijing on March 12, 2022. GAO SHANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

"It is an endeavor that transcends the technical demands of the music and delves into the very essence of musical and cultural dialogue between China and the West. We are very proud of this project," says the 60-year-old, who became the principal conductor of the China NCPA Orchestra in 2012, two years after its founding. "This historic release is not only a celebration of Bruckner's timeless music but also a symbolic gesture highlighting China's growing prominence on the global classical music stage."

One defining characteristic of the NCPA interpretation is Lyu's notably slow tempo, especially when conducting the Eighth Symphony, which stretches to an expansive 100 minutes.

"I wanted to say more with the music, so I intentionally slowed the tempo," the conductor explains. "Each of Bruckner's symphonies is its own cosmos, and I wanted to discuss the philosophical nature of his music through the performances."