Philadelphia Orchestra Tours China, Celebrates 50-Year Connection Ahead of Biden-Xi Meeting

Marking their 13th visit and the 50th anniversary of their first, the Philadelphia Orchestra embarks on high-profile tour performing with the China National Symphony Orchestra while showcasing long-standing cultural ties amidst thawing relationship between China and the U.S.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's tour in China, marking the 50th anniversary of their historic first performance in the country, reflects improving ties between China and the U.S. on the eve of a crucial meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jingping.
Fourteen members of the orchestra, including violinist Davyd Booth -- who was part of the first tour half a century ago -- will be performing with the China National Symphony Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Orchestra's tour includes performances in Beijing, Tianjin, Suzhou, and Shanghai, as well as masterclasses and chamber music performances at various schools and cultural venues in these cities.
This cultural exchange comes in the wake of several high-profile visits to China from U.S. leaders, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
The U.S. and China have been gradually re-establishing contacts lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating tensions between the world's two largest economies, with both nations making diplomatic overtures ahead of the forthcoming Biden-Xi meeting.