BBC orchestra to do 5 concerts in China

LONDON - BBC National Orchestra of Wales will tour China over Dec 15-21, performing five concerts in four cities aimed at fostering creative collaborations between China and Wales, the orchestra announced on Tuesday.

Led by Chinese principal guest conductor Zhang Xian, the orchestra begins its tour with two concerts in Beijing followed by shows in Changsha, Wuhan and Shenzhen. According to the BBC orchestra, the visit marks the first time Zhang will tour her home country with a European symphony orchestra.

"I conduct a number of the Chinese orchestras on a regular basis, but this is the first time I am touring China with a European orchestra. I am very much looking forward to introducing the musicians of the BBC orchestra to my country, and I think that the cultural cooperation with my musicians and the musicians in Shenzhen will be extremely interesting for us all," says Zhang.