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In a historic collaboration of Eastern and Western traditions, China’s pioneering Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is set to tour Australia, New Zealand and Singapore in March. The Orchestra will be led by its renowned Music Director, Long Yu — hailed byThe New York Times as “the most powerful figure in China’s classical music scene.”

Founded in 1879, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is Asia’s oldest orchestra and a driving force in shaping China’s classical music landscape across three centuries. It is internationally recognised for its performance on the Oscar and Grammy-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon soundtrack — a landmark moment in Chinese musical history. The Orchestra has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Berliner Philharmonie, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival.

The 2026 tour features works by two of China’s most prominent contemporary composers: Elliot Leung, the youngest-ever recipient of the 2023 Huabiao Award for Outstanding Composer, and Qigang Chen, praised by The Guardian for achieving a “sustained dialogue between Chinese and Western classical and cultural traditions.” These are presented alongside works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, performed by celebrated soloists Jian Wang (cello) and Serena Wang (piano), who makes her Australasian debut.

A vibrant centrepiece of the program is Leung’s Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavours — an evocative ten-movement suite, with each piece inspired by a traditional Chinese dish.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Music Director, Long Yu said: “It is an honour to be embarking on this special tour with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in March 2026. As Asia’s oldest symphony orchestra, SSO has undertaken many important international tours throughout its 146 year history. This tour marks the Orchestra’s return to Australia and New Zealand, in addition to its Singapore debut. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do at Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and we are glad to be sharing the stage with two internationally-acclaimed Chinese musicians for this tour — cellist Jian Wang and pianist Serena Wang — to perform a programme of Chinese and Western music. We are particularly looking forward to introducing audiences to Elliot Leung’s symphonic suite Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavours — a work commissioned and premiered by SSO last year — in addition to Qigang Chen’s piano concerto Er Huang, as they celebrate the profound depth of Chinese culture.”

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra CEO Richard Wigley said: 

• “The MSO has a long tradition of partnering with our orchestral friends and colleagues in Asia and beyond. It’s wonderful to be able to present this tour of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra alongside co-presenters Sydney Opera House, Auckland Arts Festival and Singapore Symphony Orchestra. This will be a truly cross-cultural program showcasing the extraordinary history of Chinese musicians performing eastern and western compositions.”

Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM said: 

• “At the Sydney Opera House, we believe in the transformative power of creative collaboration. This tour from the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is an opportunity to connect more deeply with the community around us and also with our friends across the region. It’s been three decades since we’ve seen these formidable musicians in Sydney, and I’m looking forward to hearing them perform in our upgraded Concert Hall for the first time.”

Bernie Haldane, Kaitohu Toi · Artistic Director, Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival said:

• "We are honoured to welcome the world-renowned Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to Tāmaki Makaurau for this special New Zealand exclusive, in partnership with our esteemed colleagues in Australia and Singapore. This marks the first time in more than 25 years that an international symphony orchestra will perform in our city — a momentous occasion for our audiences and arts community. We’re especially looking forward to sharing a selection from Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavours, a piece that reflects Chinese culture through music — a powerful reminder of how music can connect us across borders and traditions."

Kenneth Kwok, CEO of Singapore Symphony Group said: 

• “We are delighted to partner the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on their tour of Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. This collaboration deepens the cultural ties between Singapore and Shanghai — two dynamic global cities with enduring connections. Long Yu has been a long-time friend of the SSO, and we warmly welcome him and the orchestra for their debut performance in Singapore. I look forward to hearing them at the Esplanade Concert Hall.”

The tour is organised by the award-winning classical music agency Askonas Holt, who have been bringing the world’s greatest orchestras to audiences around the world for decades, and next year celebrate their 150th anniversary.’

Australasian–Southeast Asian tour:

• Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, Friday 13 March 2026
• Sydney Opera House, Sunday 15 March 2026
• Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival, Auckland Town Hall, Thursday 19 & Friday 20 March 2026
• Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, Monday 23 March 2026