The first stop of the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2026 China tour in Hainan begins

China News Service, Haikou, November 12 (Reporter Zhang Qianyi) On the evening of the 11th, the Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center Grand Theater was packed with seats. The first stop of the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2026 China tour in Hainan kicked off here. Chief guest conductor Marin Alsop conducted the concert, bringing a musical dialogue spanning mountains and seas and the East and West to the Coconut City audience.

On the evening of November 11, the first stop of the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2026 China tour in Hainan opened at the Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center Grand Theater. Photo by Su Bikun

In 1973, the Philadelphia Orchestra embarked on a tour of China, becoming the first well-known American orchestra to perform in China after the founding of New China. Over the past 50 years, the orchestra has visited China more than ten times, using musical notes as a medium to build an artistic bridge for the people of the two countries to get to know each other.

That night, the orchestra performed classics such as Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro" overture, Montgomery's "Strumming", Mozart's "Symphony No. 40 in G minor", Beethoven's "Symphony No. 1 in C major" and other classics, demonstrating the charm and top interpretation of classical music.

Strings and wind instruments intertwine and collide, sometimes tense and fierce, sometimes soothing and tender, and the audience's mood rises and falls with the music. At the end of the performance, the orchestra returned to perform Hainan's native song "Wanquan River Water", pushing the atmosphere to a climax. At the end of the song, there was thunderous applause that lasted for a long time.

On the evening of November 11, the first stop of the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2026 China tour in Hainan opened at the Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center Grand Theater. Photo by Su Bikun

Orchestra leader David Kim said in an interview with a reporter from China News Service that building a relationship with music lasts forever. Music can convey thoughts and concepts that words alone cannot. The orchestra hopes to use the power of music to enhance understanding, find and create consensus.

This is the second time the Philadelphia Orchestra has visited Coconut City. In November 2024, the orchestra visited Hainan for the first time. At that time, Hainan Province and the Philadelphia Orchestra signed a memorandum of cooperation, promising long-term artistic cooperation.

On the evening of November 12, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Chinese-Western Dialogue Masters Night” will continue to be performed. Marin Alsop will join hands with young Chinese pianist Zhang Haochen to present Brahms' "Academy Festival Overture", Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major", and Dvořák's "Symphony No. 7 in D minor". While in Qiong, the orchestra also conducted exchange performances at Hainan University, bringing music out of the theater and closer to young people. (over)