Youth is a key focus of the upcoming Beijing Music Festival, which returns to the capital next month with a bumper, double edition.

After postponing its programs in 2022, the Beijing Music Festival, in its 26th year, will return this coming September and October with a special format that combines the 25th and 26th events into one big bumper event.

Usually, the annual festival lasts about two weeks. This year, it will be held from Sept 22 to Oct 15, spanning 24 days and showcasing 25 performances of various classical music forms, including opera premieres, newly commissioned works, recitals and chamber music.

"I can still recall vividly that when we announced postponing our festival last year, we were very disappointed. Now, we are very excited to announce the return of the festival this year," said conductor Yu Long, the festival's founder and artistic committee chairman, at the Divine Music Administration, located inside Beijing's Temple of Heaven, on Aug 9.

The Divine Music Administration was first built in 1420, and is one of the five major structures at the Temple of Heaven, an imperial sacrificial altar. It was the highest ritual music academy for training and practicing imperial sacrificial music.