The first event of the "August Classical Music" salon to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth was recently held at the Cloud Bookstore, a 24-hour store at Phoenix International Book Mall in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu.

During the event, several pieces composed by Beethoven were shared via live stream and in-person listening sessions.

She Jiangtao, president of Phoenix Publishing and Media Inc (PPM), was invited as a guest to attend the music salon.

Mr She said that Beethoven opened people's eyes to the realization that music comes from deep in the heart and reflects a spirit of freedom.

During Beethoven's lifetime, the Enlightenment and countless revolutions occurred, and the middle class began taking center stage. All of this laid the social foundations for him to emerge from the aristocratic circle and compose for ordinary people, he continued.

Sun Qian, deputy director of Phoenix Literature & Art Publishing Ltd, a subsidiary of PPMG, showcased the latest "Phoenix Gramophone" series at the event. The series was jointly published by Phoenix and Gramophone, the largest media group in the United Kingdom.

As a chief planner for the series, She Jiangtao said that cooperation with Gramophone allowed media workers to better understand and judge musical works.

Mr She noted that this understanding and judgment come from practical experience and are helpful in promoting and understanding music.