THIS Sunday evening, the city’s beloved pianist Chen Sa will return to the Guangming Culture and Art Center, presenting the Shenzhen premiere of “24 Solar Terms” and weaving nature’s sounds into a tapestry of Chinese romanticism.

If the seasons had a voice, what would they sound like? Perhaps the first rumble of thunder across the fields at Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe), raindrops splashing on lotus leaves at Grain in Ear (Mangzhong), or the soft rustle of wheat ears as autumn winds sweep over the harvest.

Chen has gathered these scattered fragments of nature from across the Chinese landscape and woven them into flowing musical notes. She will join conductor Sun Yifan and the NCPAO Chamber Orchestra to present a program that bridges East and West — pairing Wagner’s most tender orchestral tribute with the Chinese composer Chang Le’s work inspired by China’s 24 solar terms.

The evening opens with Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll,” a lovingly crafted orchestral serenade composed for the composer’s wife to celebrate the birth of their son. Conductor Sun Yifan will lead the NCPAO Chamber Orchestra in this warm, 18-minute Romantic gem.

Then comes the centerpiece: Chang Le’s “24 Solar Terms, Tone Poems for Piano, Natural Sounds & Chamber Orchestra.” The 60-minute work incorporates field recordings of insects, rain and wind into the musical fabric. Chang has captured the sonic essence of each seasonal turning point, and Chen’s deeply expressive touch gives these sounds a soul.

Chen, hailed by BBC Music Magazine as “one of the most charismatic pianists of her generation,” is the only Chinese pianist to have won prizes at all three major international competitions — Leeds, Chopin, and Van Cliburn. She has served as a juror for the International Chopin Piano Competition in both 2021 and 2025 and was awarded Poland’s “Chopin Art Passport” for her contributions to the composer’s legacy.

Time: 8 p.m., July 26

Venue: Grand Theater, Guangming Culture and Art Center, Guangming District (光明文化艺术中心演艺中心大剧场)

Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station (凤凰城站), Exit B(Tang Li)