This November, 14 members of the Philadelphia Orchestra will tour China, giving concerts and organizing residency activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ensemble's historic 1973 Chinese tour, the first by an American orchestra.

One member of the party, violinist Davyd Booth, participated in the 1973 tour, and will return to join his colleagues in furthering the Orchestra's commitment to people-to-people exchange through music.

"Music has the power to connect and build bridges. We are delighted to commemorate the historic 1973 tour, and our 50-year relationship with the people of China during this residency," said Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Center, Inc. "The 1973 tour is remembered to this day by many in China as a symbol of deep musical friendship, and we hope that our music-making will continue to build bridges between our people and cultures."

The tour from November 9 to 18 will include activities in Beijing, Tianjin, Suzhou, and Shanghai with many of the Orchestra's long-term partners.

In Beijing, the orchestra will perform a 50th anniversary concert with the China National Symphony Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, jointly conducted by China National Symphony Orchestra Chief Conductor, Li Xincao and Philadelphia Orchestra Assistant Conductor, Tristan Rais-Sherman.

They will also participate in the Global Education Music League Competition at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, building on the success of the inaugural competition in 2019, which featured The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music and Artistic Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

They will then move on to Tianjin to perform at the Tianjin Juilliard School, along with musicians from the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, and the Tianjin Juilliard School.

In Suzhou, the orchestra will give a chamber performance at the Suzhou Museum and the Humble Administrator's Garden, followed by another perfomance at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre with the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra.

There are also plans to give master classes, host panel discussions, and hold a chamber music performance at the ShanghaiTech University, with additional performances at the Shanghai Children's Palace and the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.

In Suzhou, the orchestra will give a chamber performance at the Suzhou Museum and the Humble Administrator's Garden, followed by another perfomance at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre with the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra.

There are also plans to give master classes, host panel discussions, and hold a chamber music performance at the ShanghaiTech University, with additional performances at the Shanghai Children's Palace and the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.