Saying "520" is pronounced similarly to the Mandarin equivalent of "I love you", making May 20 a sought-after day for couples.

On this romantic date, the China National Symphony Orchestra presented When Love Draws Near, a heartwarming vocal concert at Beijing Concert Hall, celebrating love in all its forms.

Structured in four emotional chapters — First Encounter: Heartbeats Like Poetry; Deep Affection: Years of Promise; True Love: A Life Without Regret; and Together: Gentle World — the program seamlessly combined Chinese and Western classics, film music, musical theater, and pop songs.

Young soloists, vocal ensembles and instrumentalists collaborated under the direction of Fu Min, creating a rich, chaptered narrative that guided the audience on a journey of intimacy, joy and nostalgia.

Highlights included delicate duets, dynamic sextets and full-ensemble performances. Notable moments featured Like You, All I Ask of You, and the titular piece When Love Draws Near, culminating in a spirited rendition of the pop song Love. Each performance brought warmth, layered harmonies and emotional resonance, leaving the hall thundering with applause.

This concert, part of the orchestra's 2025/26 season, bridged classical music with a contemporary audience.