Vienna orchestra begins five-city tour in China

Andris Nelsons will take the baton and lead the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra during its China tour.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra embarks on a tour of China from Thursday, visiting Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai and two other cities.

Andris Nelsons, who is the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will conduct 10 concerts for the orchestra through Oct 30.

According to Daniel Froschauer, the president of the orchestra and a violinist, the orchestra will perform two symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven－Symphony No 8 in F Major Op 93 and Symphony No 7 in A Major Op 92－"whose music played a hugely important role in shaping the sound of the Vienna Philharmonic from the beginning".

The orchestra will also play Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben Op 40 and Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, "two of the most important composers in our history".