This month the Orchestra made its first visit to China since 2017, and its first with Music Director Vasily Petrenko. Performing concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Jiageng Changsha, Wuhan and Nanjing with our Principal Cello Richard Harwood and star violinist Ray Chen as soloists, we drew large audiences in each city, and made a significant impact and helped forge lasting relationships with performing arts organisations across China.
Scroll down to see photos of what we got up to during the trip.
8 – 9 August, Beijing
Our tour began in the capital with two sell-out concerts at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), performing Britten's Four Sea Interludes, Korngold's Violin Concerto, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Tan Dun's Crouching Tiger Cello Concerto, and Shostakovich's Symphony No.5.
Second Violin Sali-Wyn Ryan and Principal Bassoon Fraser Gordon outside the NCPA.
Photo © Wang Xiaojing
Photo © Wang Xiaojing
Photo © Wang Xiaojing
10 – 11 August, Shanghai
Our next stop was Shanghai, the country's largest city, for two nights, again featuring concerto performances by Ray Chen and Richard Harwood, as well as the addition of Guan Xia's Mulan Psalm: Potpourri to open our concerts in the Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall.
Photo © Sali-Wyn Ryan
Photo © Sali-Wyn Ryan
Composer Tan Dun was in the audience for the second night, and met Vasily Petrenko after the concert backstage.
12 August, Shenzhen
Our tour brought us next to Shenzhen's Poly Theatre, where we met the the Shenzhen Poly Youth Orchestra. We had planned for a few of our musicians to deliver workshop sectionals for the Youth Orchestra in the afternoon, but flight delays meant it wasn't possible. Instead, we invited the Youth Orchestra to watch our rehearsal, and they then came on stage afterwards to give a short performance to some of our musicians. It was a pleasure to hear them!
14 August, Xiamen
After a day of travelling on Tuesday, Wednesday brought us to the southeastern coastal city's Jiageng Arts Centre. Before the concert three of our players, Josh Cirtina, Chantal Webster and Fraser Gordon hosted a Q&A session with some members of the audience.
Photos © Xiamen Poly Theater
In the evening our players got the chance to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of Xiamen!
Photo © Sali-Wyn Ryan
The second violins
The viola section
Our brass section meeting some locals
The double basses enjoying post-concert food and pints
16 August, Changsha
After another day of travelling and sightseeing, we received a warm welcome at Changsha Concert Hall.
Photos © Sali-Wyn Ryan
17 August, Wuhan
Our penultimate stop was Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall, a beautiful venue surrounded by a glade of lotus flowers.
Photo © Adriana Iacovache-Pana
Photo © Peter Graham
A group shot with Ray Chen to commemorate the tour...
...and some of the concerts, stage and tours team that makes it all happen!
18 August, Nanjing
Our tour finale took place at the Jiangsu Grand Theater in Nanjing, topping off the music with the Britten, Korngold and Rimsky-Korsakov.
Players Rupert, Caitlin and Byron posing outside of Jiangsu Grand Theater
Photo © Peter Graham
As is tour tradition, the end of tour means some family portraits of our sections!
Thank you to everyone who made our tour to China possible, and to the audiences who came to support us. We look forward to returning again soon.