“TIDES Rise Amid Mountains and Sea,” a large-scale original symphony celebrating the Shenzhen-Hong Kong story, will be staged for two nights at the Bay Opera of Shenzhen next week. The work marks the first time a symphonic composition has been dedicated to the intertwined narrative of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. With an epic structure blending concerto suites, symphonic poetry, and choral movements, it brings together top composers and lyricists from both cities alongside the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra Chorus. The symphony weaves two beloved melodies into its orchestral fabric: Hong Kong’s iconic “The Pearl of the Orient” appears in a powerful symphonic reimagining, while the Cantonese classic “Rising Higher Step by Step” is transformed to reflect the region’s optimistic spirit. This fusion of popular and classical traditions symbolizes the deep cultural integration of the two cities. Geographic and ecological symbols anchor the work’s emotional core. Shenzhen’s Wutong Mountain and Hong Kong’s Lion Rock represent the spirit of resilience; the Shenzhen River embodies their inseparable bond; and the migratory black-faced spoonbill serves as a symbol of the Greater Bay Area’s shared ecological future. The program opens with the overture “Shenzhen–Hong Kong,” setting the stage for the symphonic concerto suite “Tides of the South China Sea,” before arriving at the centrepiece — the symphonic poem “Tides Rise Amid Mountains and Sea,” which unfolds across four movements: “Mountains and Sea in Spring” (orchestra and chorus), “Striving With Us” (orchestra and chorus), “Southern Cantonese Colors” (orchestra), and “Story of the Spoonbill” (female voice and orchestra). The work then surges to its grand conclusion with the finale “Tides Rise Amid Mountains and Sea,” a powerful orchestral-choral reprise that brings the entire epic to a resounding close. Time: 8 p.m., July 21 & 22 Venue: Opera Hall, Bay Opera of Shenzhen, Bao’an District (深圳滨海艺术中心歌剧厅) Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit D(SD News) | 