THE ancient folk tales in the collection “Arabian Nights” have inspired poets and writers, artists, and composers for centuries; one masterpiece spawned by these fantasies is Rimsky-Korsakov’s 45-minute orchestral suite “Scheherazade.”

This Friday night, under the baton of Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra’s (SZSO) assistant conductor Fang Zhongling, the orchestra promises to transport the audience to a fairytale world with this colorful and emotionally charged piece.

Immediately, Rimsky-Korsakov’s music introduces two main characters, each with their own specific themes — a bold, brash theme for the Sultan, answered by the mesmerizing solo violin representing Scheherazade, the young bride.

In the four-movement piece, the audience will experience stories such as the turbulent “The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship,” the exotic oriental “Tale of the Kalendar Prince,” and the lyrical love-themed “Young Prince and the Young Princess,” all culminating in an inner struggle of the Sultan echoing the opening scene of Sinbad’s sea journey. Finally, Scheherazade’s melody returns for the concluding moments of this fantastical journey, symbolizing her triumph over her husband.

During the concert, flutist Li Xiaoxi and harpist Zhang Jingtong will headline another gem of the classical repertoire, Mozart’s “Flute and Harp Concerto in C Major.”

This concerto was written in Paris in April 1778 for the Duke de Guines, a flutist, and the duke’s daughter, who played the harp “magnificently,” as noted by the composer himself. The father-daughter duo performed the three-movement piece at the young woman’s wedding ceremony.

A charming piece of salon music, the composition for the instruments is brilliant without being overly virtuosic. The two instruments engage in a lively conversation or take turns with delightful solo passages, complemented discreetly by each other, with the orchestra fulfilling its role effectively.

Fang, a promising young talent, studied conducting with professors Jin Ye and Li Xincao at the China Conservatory of Music before continuing his education at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under the guidance of Daniele Rosina.

Fang served as an assistant conductor with the China Youth Philharmonic Orchestra between 2017 and 2019, and was appointed as an assistant conductor with SZSO in March 2022.

As a versatile musician, Fang has an extensive repertoire encompassing symphonies and operas as a conductor, and has performed as a solo pianist at concerts and won piano competitions in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Li, a student of Jeffrey Khaner at the Curtis Institute of Music in the United States, has garnered multiple international competition victories. Zhang, born into a family of musicians, is currently studying with Jessica Zhou at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Time: 8 p.m., June 21

Tickets: 50-880 yuan

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D (Li Dan)