China Philharmonic Orchestra

The China Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) was founded in Beijing in May 2000... For the past 18 years CPO has achieved an astonishing leap forward and won wide attention home and abroad. CPO sets an example for the infinite potential of Chinese cultural renewal and economic boom, as witnessed by the rest of the world.

China Philharmonic Orchestra was founded on the basis of China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra and administered by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. Its opening concert was held on December 16, 2000 conducted by Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Long Yu. . As one of the youngest and most dynamic symphony orchestras in China, CPO takes pride in professionalism, a role model to be followed by its Chinese peers.

In the past eighteen years CPO has presented numerous premieres that are virtually nowhere to be found elsewhere in China and forged its own style through extensive artistic involvement.

On October 21st 2001 Philip Glass’ Cello Concerto, commissioned by CPO, got its world premiere at Poly Theatre in Beijing. This is the first commissioned work by an oversee composer from music establishment in China ever.

CPO is the active and frequent advocate of Chinese music in the global sphere. The orchestra is involved in a wide range of tours including Taipei, Taichung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung in 2001, North and Latin America in 2002, a world tour in 2005 covering 22 cities and many following tours to Europe and the United States of America.

Conductor: Xia Xiaotang

Xia xiaotang was graduated from the Conducting Department of China’s Central Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Professor Yu Feng. He has been recently appointed as Principal Conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the China Youth Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Conducting Department of the Central Conservatory of Music. In 2006, he has championed the golden prize of the second National Conducting Competition. As a guest conductor, he appears regularly with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, China Opera House, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the San Francisco Baroque Orchestra. He has worked with many of the world’s leading musicians and composers, winning high critical acclaims.

Violinist: Liu Rui

Violinist Liu Rui was born on March 3, 1983 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. He started learning violin with his father at the age of four. At the age of ten, he was admitted into the Primary School of Central Conservatory of Music and started his life of learning music in conservatories. During his eight-year life in the Primary School and the Middle School affiliated to the Central Conservatory of Music, Liu Rui has studied under Professor Xiangyang Li and Professor Xiaozhi Huang successively, which laid solid foundation of music education and accumulated rich playing experience. In 2001, he was then admitted into the Central Conservatory of Music and studied under Professor Zhenshan Wang. During the academic years, he had performed on stage many times and engaged in exchange programs overseas. In 2005, Liu Rui graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music and joined the China Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2014, Liu Rui was promoted to the assistant concert master of the China Philharmonic Orchestra.

During his tenure in the orchestra, Liu Rui joined its international tours intensively and participated in many major performances at home and abroad, including playing as soloist in Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra during the China Philharmonic Orchestra's Maritime Silk Road Concert Tour in 2016. In addition to engagements with the orchestra, Liu Rui also cooperated with distinguished musicians and participated in many important performances, including playing the theme song "You and Me" of the 2008 Olympic Games, and cooperated with Professor Qigang Chen, a famous composer, and the famous director and filmmaker Mr. Yimou Zhang successively, to play the theme music of the movies such as Under the Hawthorn Tree and The Flowers of War and his musicianship is highly regarded.