Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to Launch Asia-Pacific Tour in March

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, together with cellist Wang Jian and young pianist Wang Yalun, will launch an Asia-Pacific tour in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore in March. They will hold five concerts at the Hamer Hall in Melbourne, the Sydney Opera House, the Auckland Arts Festival, and the Esplanade in Singapore from March 13 to 23.

On Friday (January 9), a pre-tour preview performance took place at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall, conducted by the orchestra's artistic director Yu Long. Wang Yalun performed Chen Qigang's piano concerto "Er Huang," while Wang Jian presented Tchaikovsky's "Variations on a Rococo Theme." The second half of the concert featured Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 in E minor.

In addition to the pieces performed at the Shanghai preview, the full tour repertoire includes Hong Kong composer Elliot Liang's "Chinese Kitchen – A Feast of Flavors" and Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor.

"Chinese Kitchen – A Feast of Flavors" was commissioned by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in celebration of the troupe's 145th anniversary. Each movement corresponds to a Chinese dish, transforming "memories of taste" into "resonance of sound."

Chen Qigang's "Er Huang" takes its title from a singing style of Chinese opera, with the Peking Opera melodies in the work drawn from the composer's memories of family and social life during his upbringing.

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra hopes to illuminate iconic cultural landmarks across the Asia-Pacific region with these distinctive works and its mission of connecting the world through music.

"Some international media were surprised to learn that the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra has a history of over 100 years," said Yu Long. "While Europe and North America may be relatively familiar with China's musical development, for Australian audiences, this tour is an opportunity for us to showcase the capabilities of Chinese orchestras."

Wang Jian added, "The international music community is actually quite familiar with Chinese musicians, as they often perform abroad. But foreign audiences may not be as acquainted with Chinese symphony orchestras because they don't frequently visit China. This tour allows them to get to know us up close."

The last time the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra performed in Australia was in 1996. During this tour, the orchestra will also engage in a series of exchange activities with local symphony orchestras at each stop, including guided concert introductions and educational initiatives.