China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra (NCPAO) is marking its 15th anniversary with a first ever European tour to Scotland, England, Spain, and Germany.
From August 6 – 15, the NCPAO will tour to the Edinburgh International Festival, Saffron Hall, the Festival Internacional Santander, Internationales Musikfestival Koblenz and the Elbphilharmonie Summer Festival. In Edinburgh, they will perform at Usher Hall as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. In England, they will perform at Saffron Hall in Saffron Walden, just outside Cambridge.
During the tour, the programme at all locations will begin with Wu Xing (The Five Elements) by Qigang Chen. This ten-minute work comprises of five short portrayals of metal, wood, water, fire and earth. This will be followed by various performances depending on the location of the tour.
The NCPAO is the resident orchestra of the spectacular National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing and a premier China orchestra. They perform over 100 concerts a year, with a total live audience of around 200,000 people and an online concert series drawing an average audience of 20 million.
This marks the first time NCPAO have carried out a European tour, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the orchestras founding. They have previously toured the Americas.
Ren Xiaolong, the NCPAO’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “Based in the capital city of a country often regarded as the future of classical music [Beijing, China], The China NCPA Orchestra is committed to reshaping China’s music life as well as bringing the power of classical music to audiences across the world. Therefore, our first European tour is the perfect way to celebrate our 15th anniversary. With Maestro Chung and Bruce Liu, our musicians are bringing a distinctively creative programme that combines French romantic works and contemporary Chinese music. We look forward to meeting all audiences across Europe in August.”
Maestro Myung-Whun Chung commented: “I have long cherished my appearances with the NCPAO. They are an orchestra that truly listens to each other, has a voracious appetite for new repertoire and for connecting with listeners. Being able to play both orchestral and operatic repertoire gives them a versatility and level of excellence that ensures each performance is thrilling. I’m very excited about this tour!”
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