Orchestral maneuvers

The symphony orchestra of the Silk Road International League of Theaters will embark on a tour of China and debut in Europe next year, Chen Nan reports.

The symphony orchestra of the Silk Road International League of Theaters will launch a 10-city tour in China and will make its international debut with a tour of several European countries, including Hungary, Bulgaria and Latvia in April and May, according to the China Performing Arts Agency Theaters, China's national performing arts theater chain. Tianjin Symphony Orchestra will perform during the tour under the baton of conductor Tang Muhai.

According to Zhang Li, the general director of CPAA Theaters, the symphony orchestra of the Silk Road International League of Theaters－which was launched in Beijing in July－aims to team up symphony orchestras and musicians from China and abroad to tour worldwide.

Conductor Tang, 69, who has worked with renowned symphony orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the Finnish National Opera, was invited to be the artistic director of the symphony orchestra.

The newly-formed ensemble is set to hold concerts during the upcoming 2018 China International Performing Arts Fair and Silk Road International League of Theaters Annual Conference, which will be held in Guangzhou from Nov 29 to Dec 2.

"The move will help the league strengthen its role in promoting cultural cooperation with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative while showcasing its musical performances in China and beyond," Zhang says.