Orchestra Teams With PAC

The Philadelphia Orchestra has announced a “pilot partnership” with the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

In line with the partnership, the orchestra will spend a week in China in May during which the orchestra will carry out coaching sessions, master classes and workshops, as well as performances.

Philadelphia’s was the first major American orchestra to perform in China back in 1973. In recent years, a number of Western cultural institutions have set up partnerships in China to satisfy a growing desire for Western arts, in particular classical music.

According to the New York Times, the rush to build concert halls in China has accelerated, leading to a “need for high-level performers.” This has energized Western music ensembles that are having financial troubles at home.