Wiener Philharmoniker, Austria, 2017-2027

01 Jun 2017 - 01 Oct 2027

Orchestra & Choir

©Lois Lammerhuber

On 2 March 2021, Mr. Daniel Froschauer, President of the Vienna Philharmonic, Mr. Michael Bladerer, General Manager, Bernhard Naoki Hedenborg, Treasurer and Mr. Jiatong Wu, President of Wu Promotion, signed an extension of their five-year exclusive touring partnership in Greater China Area from 2022 to 2027. The successful cooperation established in 2014, with Mr. Clemens Hellsberg, former President of the Vienna Philharmonic, and Dieter Flury, former General Manager of the orchestra, regulated the implementation of orchestral tours in Greater China Area (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) from 2017 to 2021.

From 2017 to 2019, the Vienna Philharmonic visited China in three consecutive years to perform large-scale tours with conductors Andris Nelsons, Franz Welser-Möst, Christian Thielemann and Andrés Orozco-Estrada in seven cities - Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau, Nanjing, Tianjin and Wuhan - making 24 concerts that were complemented with 10 outreach activities.

In 2020, due to the epidemic, Chinese audiences were not able to welcome the Vienna Philharmonic with Maestro Valery Gergiev but we look forward to a new turn of events in 2021 with Maestro Riccardo Muti.

Daniel Froschauer, President of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra says:
The Vienna Philharmonic has always felt the warmth and enthusiasm of the Chinese audience. We are very impressed by the understanding and love of classical music among Chinese audiences. It is important for the Orchestra to associate itself with a strong local promoter who understands and manages with professionalism and international standards this important and mature market and it is our pleasure to continue this path with Wu Promotion.

Jiatong Wu, President of Wu Promotion comments:
We are honored to continue the cooperation with the Vienna Philharmonic for another five years contributing to the development of the Chinese musical life with these uniquely gifted interpreters. We are sincerely grateful for the trust and friendship received from the orchestra's board members and musicians.

The extension of this partnership that begins in 2021 becomes even more meaningful since it marks as well the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Austria and the People's Republic of China.

Both the Vienna Philharmonic and Wu Promotion remain committed to strengthening their exclusive partnership through excellent performances led by the greatest conductors of our time. Combined with the development of renewed outreach activities, exhibitions and networking with local musicians, concert halls and music fans, this agreement has us looking forward with great joy to more cultural exchange over the next five years.

With this announcement, we wish to spread hope and confidence for the development of cultural exchange and cooperation, which in these challenging times is more necessary than ever.

Taking 2017 as the starting point, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Andris Nelsons embarked on the first major tour of the orchestra´s history in China, being as well the first visit of this leading international conductor in the country.

This initial journey of the orchestra started with the concerts in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Nanjing, and celebrated the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Shanghai Oriental Art Center and the Guangzhou Xinghai Concert Hall, the opening of the Jiangsu Grand Theatre and the closing performance of the 31st Macau International Music Festival.

Shenzhen Concert Hall ©Shenzhen Concert Hall

Oriental Art Center ©Wupromotion

Xinghai Concert Hall ©Xinghai Concert Hall

Jiangsu Grand Theatre @Wupromotion

31st Macao International Music Festival ©Wupromotion

In addition to concerts, VPO was invited to participate in various outreach activities such as sports competitions with local orchestras and concert halls, master classes, fans meetings and benefit concerts, showing the affinity and boosting the cultural exchanges between China and Austria.

In 2018, VPO and conductor Franz Welser-Möst, embarked on its second large-scale tour of China at the Tianjin Grand Theatre, the Xinghai Concert Hall and the Shanghai Oriental Art Centre to nearly 10,000 music fans. The interaction of the orchestra within parallel events like master classes with the Tianjin Conservatory of Music and the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, a friendly table tennis match with the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, and a friendly football match with the Xinghai United team, deepened their relationship with China.

In 2019, VPO together with conductors Christian Thielemann, Andrés Orozco Estrada and Chinese pianist Yuja Wang took off the third large-scale tour in China with countless unforgettable moments and surprises for 13,000 Chinese fans with concerts at the Macau International Music Festival, Guangdong Xinghai Concert Hall of Shanghai, Shanghai Oriental Arts Center and Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall.

For the third consecutive year, the artists of VPO continued to conduct master classes and cultural experiences, presenting a more three-dimensional and multi-faceted image while enhancing their understanding and affection for China.