The Sydney Symphony Orchestra Returns Home from Fifth Tour of China

Ninety-seven musicians of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra arrive home this morning after performing to a full house on Saturday night with Chief Conductor and Artistic Director David Robertson at Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts.

In a stellar finale to their week-long China tour, Mr Robertson and the SSO were joined by Japanese- born American violinist Midori performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in a program that also featured Ligeti's Romanian Concerto and Prokofiev's Symphony No.5.

Following a rapturous applause, the SSO was welcomed at a post-concert reception hosted by the Australian Embassy Beijing, held as part of the 'Australia Performs' program of cultural activities celebrating the 45th anniversary of Australia-China diplomatic relations.

Speaking at the event, Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China HE Jan Adams AO said: "Tonight's performance was a window in to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's home city, Sydney - its ambition, its vibrancy.

"It's really very appropriate that one of the major celebrations of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations highlights the connections between two great cultural institutions from two great cities," she said, referring to the NCPA and the SSO, who had earlier that night re-signed the Memorandum of Understanding they initiated in 2012.

Mr Robertson said the musicians of the SSO had again been wonderful cultural ambassadors for Australia: "Touring is important because it allows us to strengthen the relationships within the ensemble. But it also allows us to share our music with those who live far away from our home, the Sydney Opera House. When we come to China we're sending a message about the dynamism of Australia's arts scene - an open invitation to visit us."

The Orchestra also performed the program with Midori at Shanghai Symphony Hall on Wednesday night, before flying to Beijing for two concerts.

On Friday night NCPA audiences enjoyed virtuosic performances by Principal Oboe Diana Doherty in the Chinese premiere of Nigel Westlake's Oboe Concerto Spirit of the Wild and Acting Principal Clarinet Francesco Celata in John Adams' Gnarly Buttons, in a chamber music program.

The tour saw the SSO engage in several outreach activities, including two days of master classes at the Shanghai Orchestra Academy. Concertmaster Andrew Haveron and Principal Cello Umberto Clerici auditioned strings students at the Academy for three Sydney-based performance residencies. Minxian Sun (25), Kuan Li (25) and Kaixuan Zhang (23) were selected to spend two weeks rehearsing and performing with the SSO at the Sydney Opera House later this year. An SSO string quartet also gave a performance and Q & A for the students at Jian Ping High School in Shanghai on Tuesday.