China National Symphony Orchestra China National Symphony Orchestra

China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) is one of the most outstanding professional symphony orchestras in China. Originally founded as the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China in 1956, the orchestra was restructured and renamed in 1996. Leading the CNSO into the future are Director Guan Xia (Composer), Principal Conductor Michel Plasson, Laureate Conductor Muhai Tang, Principal Resident Conductor Li Xincao, Principal Guest Conductor En Shao as well as Guest Conductor Chen Xieyang.

For almost half a century, the CNSO has introduced Chinese audiences to a vast repertoire of classical, romantic, modern and contemporary orchestral works by both Western and Asian composers. Throughout its history, the CNSO has collaborated with many world famous artists in order to bring excellence to its audiences. CNSO audiences have been thrilled by famous conductors such as Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit, Kurt Masur, Slatkin, Rozhestvendsky, Schwarz and Peress. Other well-known guest artists have included composer and conductor Krzystof Penderecki, instrumentalists David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Mutter, Martha Argerich, Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, Shaham, Wang Jian, Lang Lang, Li Yundi, Lin Choliang and Lindemann.

The CNSO has toured throughout the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Australia, Mexico, Japan, DPR of Korea, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, giving successful performances to critical acclaim by the international press. In London, a music critic for The Times praised the CNSO as 'a mature group with a vital sound'. American music critics noted that 'the CNSO is an honorable member of the world music stage'. In Europe, critics headlined the orchestra as 'a great orchestra appears among the Kings of Orchestral Music '.