Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is one of the earliest and best-known orchestral ensemble of its kind in Asia, through which Chinese symphonic music has developed. Originally known as the Shanghai Public Band, it was renamed the Shanghai Municipal Orchestra in 1922. Notably under the baton of the Italian conductor Mario Paci, the orchestra promoted Western music and trained Chinese young talents very early on in China, and was the first to introduce the first Chinese orchestral music to the audiences, hence known as "the best in the Far East".

With a long history of 147 years, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra may be referred to as the history of China's symphonic music development. Spanning three different centuries, the Shanghai Symphony has now embraced a new era; it has held over ten thousand concerts – giving premiere performances of several thousand musical works and has played a major role in collaborations between world-class musicians on both the international and domestic stages, gained a reputation as the most authoritative explainer of Chinese symphonic compositions while promoting them with every possible endeavor. It was the very first orchestra in China to institute a Governing Council and to manage a high-quality concert season with a ticket pre-sale system. The orchestra created a series of musical products, including: the Concert Season, the Shanghai New Year’s Concert, the Spring Festival Concert, the Music in the Summer Air. These performances have not only fostered cultural exchange but have also built a bridge between people, orchestras and nations. 

The Orchestra also pioneered co-commissioning with world leading orchestras from well-known composers: One Sweet Morning was co-commissioned by the Orchestra and New York Philharmonic from composer John Corigliano; Duo was co-commissioned by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra from Zhao Lin; also the commission works such as Symphonic Overture Instants d'un Opera de Pekin and La joie de la souffrance composed by Qigang Chen, Symphonic Suite Dunhuang composed by Xiaogang Ye, A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains by Zhao Lin, The Wheel of Time by Fay Kueen Wang, Symphonic Dances The Legend of Monkey King by Liu Sola, Wuxia - Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Jin Yong and Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavors by Elliot Leung, Concerto for Erhu and Orchestra Nine Odes by Zhou Long. It has premiered the greatest number of contemporary Chinese works: In Memoriam by Huang Tzu, ten symphonies by Zhu Jian’er, and The Map by Tan Dun. The original soundtrack to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon performed by the Orchestra even won the Oscar and a Grammy Award - a first in Chinese musical history. The Émigré, co-commissioned by Maestro Long Yu, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic gave its world premiere on November 2023. The oratorio composed by Aaron Zigman, with lyrics by Mark Campbell and Brock Walsh, brought its international performances by New York Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra Berlin, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2024 and 2025. During the 2025 Music in the Summer Air (MISA) festival, the world premiere of Tree took place. Jointly commissioned by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Botanical Garden, this work by Elliot Leung employs a powerful musical narrative to depict a tree's fall and regeneration, prompting philosophical reflection on the relationship between nature and humanity.

Since the 1970s, it has toured extensively abroad: In 1990, the Orchestra made its debut at Carnegie Hall in New York; in 2003 it performed in 11 cities in the US; while in 2004, it toured Europe to celebrate the Sino-French Cultural Year. Its 125th Anniversary Celebration Concert given at the Berliner Philharmonie (the first Chinese symphony orchestra to play in this hall), was hailed as a great success. In 2009, under the direction of Maestro Long Yu, now the Music Director, the Orchestra embarked on a 12-concert North American tour. In July 2010, Long Yu led the Orchestra in a joint concert with the New York Philharmonic in the Central Park, New York, promoting the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Between 2012 and 2015, Long Yu conducted the Orchestra in several concerts in Germany, Netherlands, United States, Brazil which included the concert of the Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of The World Anti-Fascist War in United Nations Hall. The Orchestra made the debut in Luzern and gave other concerts in Tirol, Grafenegg and Hamburg during the European tour in summer of 2017. Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Long Yu have signed an exclusive record contract with Deutsche Grammophon in June 2018 and its fourth album has been released in June 2024. The SSO celebrated its 140th anniversary with a three-week world tour in summer of 2019, during which the Orchestra made its debuts at the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, Wolf Trap Festival and Ravinia Festival in addition to return visits to Lucerne Festival, Grafenegg Festival and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. 

With Shanghai Symphony Hall officially put into use in September 2014 (renamed as Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall in 2021), the Orchestra carries centuries of dreams into reality, and starts the new orchestra-venue integration model. The SOA – a joint-initiative between the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music held the orientation for their students. The SSO in Chamber concerts which started in 1984 and held regularly since 1991 will be passed on into the new Chamber Hall. The 3rd Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition was successfully held.

Over the past 147 years, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra has fulfilled its mission of "Music Connecting Worlds". Under the guidance of the Shanghai city spirit, Chinese cultural characteristics, and world international trends, it has become a promoter and cultivator of Eastern and Western cultural exchanges and Asian music education, continuing its glorious dream for three centuries.