Cool quartet

Andreas Grobbauer (left) and his string quartet are touring China. Photo provided to China Daily

Elected in June 2014, he is the youngest chairman of the orchestra in its 174-year history.

"I didn't expect it then, but I wanted to do the job," he says. "As a member of the Vienna Philharmonic, you are a gifted musician, but you may not be a good manager. This position needs a person who is ready to work very hard."

In this role, Grobbauer manages the orchestra's internal affairs and talks to conductors, institutions and concert agents to decide where they will play.

The Chinese company Wu Promotion specializes in getting musicians from Europe. Its CEO, Wu Jiatong, can speak Austrian and German.

"We are totally curious about what is going to happen but we are very optimistic," Grobbauer says.

Wu tells China Daily that besides the annual tour to China, his company plans to introduce more young Chinese talents to work with Western orchestras.

Grobbauer started to learn the violin at age 5. His father used to play the accordion and trumpet and supported his music studies. Grobbauer was admitted to University of Music in Graz as a teenager, and continued learning with Alfred Staar, a member of the Vienna Philharmonic.

In 1998, he became a substitute at the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic. According to the orchestra's rules, only a member of the Vienna State Opera can become a member of the Vienna Philharmonic. One must prove capable over three years before applying for auditions to the philharmonic.