The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will tour Australia, New Zealand and Singapore from March 13 to 23. The orchestra, led by music director Yu Long, will present five concerts: at Hamer Hall in Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House in Australia; the Auckland Town Hall in New Zealand; and the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore.

Included in the program are works by two of China's most prominent contemporary composers: Elliot Leung, the youngest-ever recipient of the 2023 Huabiao Film Awards for Outstanding Composer, and Chen Qigang, praised by The Guardian for achieving a "sustained dialogue between Chinese and Western classical and cultural traditions".

These works will be performed in addition to works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, featuring soloists Wang Jian, one of China's most celebrated classical cellists, and Serena Wang, a rising star pianist born in 2004, who will make her Australasian debut during the tour, performing Chen's Piano Concerto: Er Huang, a piece inspired by traditional Chinese Peking Opera.

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"As one of Asia's first symphony orchestras, the SSO has embarked on many significant international tours throughout its 146-year history," Yu says. This tour marks the orchestra's return to Australia and New Zealand, and its Singapore debut.

"We are particularly looking forward to introducing audiences to Elliot Leung's symphonic suite Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavors, a work commissioned and premiered by the SSO last year, in addition to Chen Qigang's piano concerto Er Huang, as they celebrate the profound depth of Chinese culture."

Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavors features a specific Chinese dish in each movement, interpreting Chinese culinary culture with musical vocabulary through a unique perspective.

"We're looking forward to sharing a selection from Leung," says Bernie Haldane, the Kaitohu Toi Artistic Director of the Auckland Arts Festival. She believes the piece is "a powerful reminder of how music can connect us across borders and traditions". Speaking of the SSO's two concerts on March 19 and 20 during the upcoming Auckland Arts Festival, Haldane says,"This marks the first time in more than 25 years that an international symphony orchestra will perform in our city — a momentous occasion for audiences and the arts community."

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra CEO Richard Wigley also expresses his anticipation for the SSO concert on March 13: "This will truly be a cross-cultural program showcasing the extraordinary history of Chinese musicians performing Eastern and Western compositions."

Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM says: "The Sydney Opera House believes in the transformative power of creative collaboration. The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra tour is an opportunity to connect more deeply with the community around us and also with our friends across the region. It's been three decades since we've seen these formidable musicians in Sydney, and I'm looking forward to their performance on March 15 in our upgraded concert hall for the first time."

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The SSO will conclude its Asia-Pacific tour with a concert in Singapore on March 23.

The orchestra performed in Australia and New Zealand during its first overseas tour in 1975. China's classical music scene has developed rapidly since then, with more than 80 professional orchestras operating around the country today.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai orchestra has made great professional progress and become a significant member of the global music community. "We have frequent collaborations with colleagues worldwide, and have tours operated by international performance agencies," says Zhou Ping, director of the orchestra. "With our tour program design, we hope to include pieces that contain elements of Chinese culture, and let audiences experience the beauty of Chinese tradition through symphonic music."

In 2029, the Shanghai orchestra plans to launch a global tour on a greater scale to celebrate its 150th birthday, she reveals.

Contact the writers at zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn