Philadelphia Orchestra making historic trip to China

Relations between the United States and China may not be at their all-time coziest these days. But when it comes to orchestras, the two nations are closer than ever.

That's the takeaway from a special combined performance Tuesday night by the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra at the Kimmel Center to mark the Chinese New Year, as well as the official announcement, at a reception beforehand, that the Philadelphia Orchestra will embark on a two-week tour of China this May.

Several who spoke at the reception noted the current tensions over trade between the U.S. and China. But Matías Tarnopolsky, who became CEO of the orchestra last year, pointed to the upcoming visit as a demonstration of "the incredible power of people to people."

Mayor Jim Kenney was on hand and delivered remarks about the close business and cultural ties between the city of Philadelphia and China. "The Philadelphia Orchestra is always looking for new ways to strengthen the cultural relationship between our city and other parts of the world. The Orchestra serves as a wonderful ambassador for Philadelphia and for America."

In the performance Tuesday, a rare joint concert between orchestras from different countries, the two orchestras debuted a new version of Peng-Peng Gong's Symphony No. 10, also known as Peking Fantasy.

Also on hand were orchestra and business executives from China and Consul General Zhang Ping. The U.S. diplomatic community was represented by Walter Douglas, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Douglas shared a story about how, as a Penn student, he often hung around outside the Kimmel Center before Philadelphia Orchestra performances, hoping to glom free tickets.

The occasion for the May visit is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China in 1979, although that came at the end of a process in which the Philadelphia Orchestra played a part. Shortly after President Richard Nixon made his historic visit to China in 1972, Chinese premier Zhou Enlai invited the Philadelphia Orchestra to that country. They accepted, making the trip in 1973 and becoming the first American orchestra to ever perform in China.

On the May trip, which musical director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will lead, the orchestra will spend its first week doing a residency in Beijing. The musicians then will visit Tianjin, Hangzhou, and Nanjing before winding up the tour in Shanghai.