The Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra will play the prelude to Wagner’s “The Mastersingers of Nuremberg,” Navarro’s “The Second Concerto for Clarinet and Symphony Orchestra” and Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47” in Longgang next week. Chen Xieyang will wield the baton and Yi Cheng will be the clarinet soloist.

“The Mastersingers of Nuremberg” is Wagner’s only comedic opera. A generally mellow and optimistic work, it is also quite serious about its central issue of musical innovation versus conservative tradition.

“Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47” was Shostakovich’s attempt to regain official approval after his work had been condemned by Joseph Stalin. Premiered in 1937, the piece is dark, dramatic and ultimately forthright in its courage.

The shape of Navarro’s second clarinet concerto is in one movement with three clearly identifiable main sections. In the majority of the course of the piece, his language is primarily tonal with lots of colors and a very rich orchestration. The work exploits most of the technical possibilities of the clarinet and in many sections it is treated as the instrument par excellence.

A graduate from the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, Yi is the principal clarinetist of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and a guest professor at Shenzhen University. Before he joined the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, he was the principal clarinetist of the German Berlin Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (RIAS).

Renowned conductor Chen graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of Music and is now honorary music director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor of the China National Symphony Orchestra.

Time: 8 p.m., May 20

Tickets: 120-480 yuan

Booking: WeChat account “gdszlgcc”

Venue: Longgang Culture Center, 8308 Longxiang Boulevard, Longgang District (龙岗区龙翔大道8308号龙岗文化中心)

Metro: Line 3 to Longcheng Square Station (龙城广场站), Exit D(SD News)