When a recording of Symphonies Nos 1 to 9 — the entirety of Anton Bruckner's symphonic cycle — was released by NCPA Classics on Dec 22, it was a groundbreaking achievement, not just for the China NCPA Orchestra and conductor Lyu Jia, but for the wider classical music landscape.

This ambitious project saw the Beijing-based resident symphony orchestra of the National Centre for the Performing Arts embark on an extraordinary interpretation of the Austrian composer's vast musical oeuvre. Released on the NCPA's 17th anniversary, the recording also coincided with the 200th anniversary of Bruckner's birth.

This complete cycle, the pinnacle of Lyu's decade-long journey with the China NCPA Orchestra, was also the first time a Chinese symphony orchestra had recorded all nine symphonies under a single conductor.