Symphony Kūkai

The music

• Zou Ye Kūkai Symphony for orchestra & chorus*

The performers

• Takuo Yuasa conductor
• Choir of the Central Conservatory of Music of China
• London Philharmonic Choir

Inspired by the eighth-century Buddhist monk Kūkai, this symphony spreads a message of hope and compassion, bringing together choirs from the UK and China.

Symphony Kūkai traces monk Kūkai’s 9th-century quest in Tang China, where his search for Buddhist wisdom reshaped Japanese thought and culture. Blending tribute and meditation, the music reflects his perilous voyage, spiritual devotion, and enduring message of harmony.

More than a concert, it is a luminous and immersive experience: vast choral forces and sweeping orchestral textures evoke grandeur and humanity, inviting reflection on compassion, unity, and music’s power to connect across borders.

Composed by Zou Ye and conducted by Japanese maestro Takuo Yuasa, the performance unites musicians from London and Beijing in a work that resonates with the shared hopes of past, present, and future.

*Performed in Mandarin with English surtitles.