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: Guoyong Zhang

A prestigious conductor in China, Zhang Guoyong graduated from the Conducting Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1983 under the famous conductor and music educator Prof. Huang Xiaotong. He received his doctor degree from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow in 1997, having studied under Gennadi Rozhdestvensky. He is currently the Artistic Director of the Shanghai Opera House, as well as Professor and Dean of Conducting Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

During the years, he has collaborated with many prestigious orchestras and renowned musicians, both at home and abroad. Apart from the symphonic repertoires, he also conducted numerous operas, cantatas and ballets. His specialty is Russian music, and he is widely regarded as one of the leading interpreters of Shostakovich’s symphonies.

His conducting is concise, natural, full of animation, and combines fiery passion and yet deep rationality. At the same time, his interpretations also hold great artistic tension, reflecting his profound attainments in the field of music. In recent years, his busy schedule has taken him to nations and regions including the USA, France, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

In 2006, he was invited to be a member of jury of the 8th Cadaques Orchestra International Conducting Competition in Spain.

In 2007 he toured with China’s Zhejiang Traditional Orchestra to Europe. Subsequently, he also collaborated with many other traditional orchestras such as Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan and Singapore Chinese Orchestra.