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London Symphony Orchestra to Land in Beijing

April often serves as a prelude to the international performance season in Beijing. High-class concerts, dramas, dances and other performances from both home and abroad will soon be available on the city’s stages.

One of the top attractions in April will be the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). This is their second visit to China and the first in cooperation with China’s most famous pianist Lang Lang. The LSO, established in 1905, is widely regarded as among the top five orchestras in the world; is the only British orchestra to hold an annual residency at the Lincoln Center in New York.

Rolls-Royce will be the sole sponsor of the LSO 2007 Tour of China. The April 2007 tour will feature concerts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou under the direction of the LSO’s principal guest conductor Daniel Harding. Chinese pianist Lang Lang and violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann will give solo performances. This is the second time the two organisations have partnered in China. In March 2004, Rolls-Royce sponsored a highly successful LSO Beijing concert in celebration of the centenaries of both organizations.

Daniel Harding said, “Both China and the UK share a long history of musical excellence and appreciation for the arts. We are excited to return to China.” This year’s programme will include Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.

Lang Lang, is the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and several top American orchestras. He played in the most popular solo piano concert ever held in the Vienna Golden Hall.

Conductor Daniel Harding is one of the brightest of a new generation of conductors. In 1996 he became the youngest-ever conductor at the BBC Promenade Concerts. Violinist Zimmermann’s engagements, both with orchestras and in recitals, take him to all major concert venues and international music festivals in Europe, the United States and more.