On beethoven's back

The 53-year-old Australian conductor Simone Young is one of the world's top two female conductors.

The 53-year-old Australian conductor Simone Young is one of the world's top two female conductors, the other being Marion Alsop, according to Zhao Yimin, a Guangzhou-based classical music critic and radio-show producer.

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Young was the first woman to have recorded the complete Ring Cycle of Wagner, a task that "no more than 10 conductors active now, male or female, have been able to accomplish," Zhao says.

"Young has a powerful conducting style and she is good at large-scale works, which makes her a perfect match with the tour's repertoire," he says.

Young is excited about her first visit to China. "I am very much looking forward to meeting Chinese audiences - and of course to visiting many museums and historic buildings," she says. "I would also like to sample the regional cuisines of the cities that we are visiting."

If you go:

Guangzhou: 8 pm, June 2. Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qingbo Lu (Road), Ersha Island, Yuexiu district. 400-108-8808.

Zhongshan: 8 pm, June 3. Cultural and Art Center, 73 Xingzhong Lu (Avenue), East district. 0760-8822-3666.

Foshan: 7:30 pm, June 4. Qionghua Grand Theater, 22 Zumiao Lu (Road), Chancheng district. 0757-8224-7300.

Shanghai: 7:30 pm, June 6. Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Lu (Avenue). 400-106-8686.

Beijing: 7:30 pm, June 7. National Center for Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Jie (Avenue), Xicheng district. 010-6655-0000.

Tianjin: 7:30 pm, June 8. Grand Theater, 24 Youyi Lu (Road), Hexi district. 022-8388-2000.