The China Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) was founded in Beijing in May 2000. For the past fourteen 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.

Yet one cannot comprehend CPO’s accomplishment without perceiving its exciting and enormous social frame. A large number of artists work together to fulfill their dreams with zealous passion and determination. This makes it possible to lead the great symphonic music course in China to a better and merrier destination. ‘Spring’s command, sweet necessity (Lenzes Gebot, die susse Not)’, as put by Hans Sachs in Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg. With the motto “to be the best orchestra in China, leading in Asia and renowned in the world” set at the very beginning, CPO is bound to unveil a new chapter in the symphonic music scene.

And so be it and how true is sweet necessity. In the spring of 2009, CPO was named Most Inspiring Orchestras by Gramophone online, joining the glittering array of ten fellow orchestras including Berliner Philharmoniker, London Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

For that moment CPO has prepared for fourteen years with more than 500 programmes, presenting over 2,000 music pieces and attracting millions of audience. It has toured the country and the globe by more than half a million miles, an equivalent of circling the world 20 times.

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 fourteen 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, one of the most brilliant young conductors. Working as the permanent conductor of China Philharmonic Orchestra, principal conductor of the China youth symphony orchestra and associate professor in the conducting department of Central Conservatory of Music. Born in Beijing in 1981, he was admitted by the conducting department of Central Conservatory of Music at the age of 16 with excellent performance. Then he followed Professor Yu Feng, a famous conductor to learn the conducting of symphony orchestra. After graduation in 2005, he became a teacher of main course in the department of conducting. He also worked as the principal conductor of the China youth symphony orchestra. He is the youngest main course teacher in Central Conservatory of Music.  

He has conducted in the performance of many works of famous composers’ such as Tan Dun, Chen Qigang, Guo Wenjing, and Ye Xiaogang. In 2010, he conducted China Philharmonic Orchestra to perform the tenth symphony of Shostakovich, which was made in to a record album and published. In 2011, together with the famous singer Song Zuying, he participated in scores of large concerts. In 2012, Xia Xiaotang cooperated with China Philharmonic Orchestra for dozens of concerts. He also recorded several albums with the famous singer Yuan Chenye, Pianist Wang Yujia and the guitarist Yang Xuefei. In 2013, he performed in the “Si Hai Tong Chun”, a cultural activity organized by the Overseas Chinese Affairs office. He cooperated with famous singers such as Song Zuying and gave several performance tours at the west and east coast of the U.S.  

As the principal conductor of China Youth Symphony Orchestra, he devoted himself into the development and construction of the orchestra. Leaded by him, the orchestra has given hundreds of concerts in many cities all over China. In 2008, the orchestra went to Seoul and performed Don Juan of Richard Strauss and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. The emotional and intense performance moved all the audience there. From 2009, many large symphony works have been on shown in the National Grand Theater, such as Symphony No.1 and Symphony No.5 of Mahler, Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz, Ein Heldenleben by  Richard Strauss and Debussy ‘s La mer. The style of him as a conductor is rigorous, accurate, emotional and charming. Every performance of him may leave a wonderful memory of the moments to the audiences, which is highly praised by the musicians.