London Symphony Orchestra arrives in china for 2007 tour

Beijing - The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), one of the world’s leading orchestras, today arrived in Beijing to launch their 2007 tour of China. The visit, which is sponsored exclusively by Rolls-Royce plc, a world-leading provider of power systems and services, will feature performances in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou under the direction of the LSO’s Principal Guest Conductor Daniel Harding.

The concerts will include Mahler’s Symphony No 5, Chopin’s First Piano Concerto, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique. Performances will feature internationally acclaimed Lang Lang, who joins the London Symphony Orchestra as piano soloist in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann, who will perform in Beijing, and Shanghai.

Performance dates are:

Beijing: April 19 and 20 at the Poly Theatre
Shanghai: April 22 and 23 at the Shanghai Oriental Concert Hall
Guangzhou: April 24 at the Xinghai Concert Hall

This is the LSO’s second China visit, following a successful tour programme in 2004 in celebration of the Orchestra’s centenary. The 2004 tour was also sponsored by Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce, the LSO and Poly Culture and Arts have collaborated to develop a community outreach programme around the tour that will include the following components:

A master class for conducting students at the Central Conservatory of Music. Three students have been selected to conduct members of the London Symphony Orchestra in one movement of Dvořàk’s Symphony No 9 with guidance from both Mr. Harding and members of the LSO. The master class, the first held internationally by the LSO, will be held in Beijing Poly Theatre on April 20.
Complimentary tickets have been distributed to local charitable organisations and academic institutions in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. These include charitable organisations In Touch for China, Beijing School for the Blind and Loving Heart Association, as well as British Schools in China that will invite outstanding pupils to attend performances.
Select members of the London Symphony Orchestra will also visit the Shanghai campus of Dulwich College to take part in a music workshop with the school’s music students.

Commenting on the LSO’s visit at an official welcoming ceremony and press conference, Richard Margolis, regional director for Northeast Asia for Rolls-Royce, said, “We are delighted to bring the LSO to China again and to be working with them and Poly Culture and Arts to make this a successful tour. Both Rolls-Royce and the LSO share a commitment to precision, innovation and excellence, and we are proud to partner with them for this exciting programme in China.”

General Manager Li Nan of Poly Culture and Arts, who are organising the tour, added, “We are excited to welcome the London Symphony Orchestra back to China, and are happy to be working with the Orchestra and their sponsor, Rolls-Royce. Enthusiasm for western classical music is growing rapidly in China, and Poly is proud to play a prominent role in bringing the world’s leading musicians to China.”

Kathryn McDowell, managing director of the LSO, said, “We are excited to return to China following our tour in 2004. We are grateful to Rolls-Royce for making this visit possible, and are excited to be working with them and Poly to make this a successful programme. China’s talent pool of musicians and conductors is impressive, and we are happy to provide this opportunity for China’s future performers to witness one of the world’s leading orchestras.”