Add: 32-34, Shui Yin Si Heng Rd.
水荫横路32-34号
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Founded in 1957, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra (GSO) was one of the first-born Chinese orchestras in the nation since the establishment of the New China. After decades of artistic growth, GSO becomes one of the most prestigious orchestras in China.
Maestro Long Yu, the current music director, is a Chinese conductor with an established international reputation. He has appeared as guest conductor collaborated with numerous prestigious orchestras and opera companies in the world. He holds also the artistic director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra and the Beijing Music Festival.
The pursuit of artistic improvement and artistic identity is well maintained throughout the GSO growing history. The orchestra engaged not only well-known domestic conductors and soloists, but also those from other countries such as Germany, Britain, Russia, France, Italy, Holland, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Cuba, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, etc.
Besides performing regular symphonic concerts, the orchestra developed its potentiality to opera and ballet performances. GSO has presented numerous performances in collaboration with world leading ballet companies, such as English National Ballet, Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Ballet Company of the Hungarian State Opera, Germany National Ballet, Australian Ballet, Cuba National Ballet, and Hong Kong Ballet. The productions of ballet repertoire have included "Swan Lake", "The Sleeping Beauty", "Giselle", "The Nutcracker", "Coppelia", "Don Quixote", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Cinderalla", "The Tales of Hoffman", "Les Sylphides", "La Traviata", and "Anna Karenina".
Since 1990, the orchestra has performed more than twenty concerts in Hong Kong Arts Festival, Festival De Artes De Macau, and Macau International Music Festival, and gained great critical acclaims.
In November 1993, the orchestra received an Excellency Award from the Ministry of Culture on the event of the 1st National Conducting Competition that was organized by GSO.
A reformation in the orchestra took place in 1997, a new "Music Season" system was introduced, which lead GSO toward a direction of professionalism. The new administrative and training system has pushed the orchestra to a higher artistic level.
GSO was named "A Shining Star" at the 1st Beijing International Music Festival in October 1998 for its performance of the opera "La Boheme". Later at the 2nd Beijing International Music Festival in 1999, GSO gave a French opera performance of "Carmen". At the 3rd Beijing International Music Festival in 2000, GSO performed a French opera "Werther". "It was the best sound I ever heard from among Chinese orchestras" the famous Polish composer Mr. Krzysztof Penderecki remarked after listening to GSO's music presentation. In addition, the media in Beijing reported: "it is heart lightening to see GSO rising from the southern China so quickly and becomes one of the mainstream orchestras". In October, 2002, GSO gave the PRC premiere of Mahler's Symphony No.8 (Symphony of a Thousand) with about a thousand Chinese and foreign musician at the opening concert of the 5th Beijing Music Festival.
In September 1999, celebrating the Asian Month in Fukuoka Japan, GSO members were invited to join a "united orchestra" which was formed by members from seven visiting orchestras of seven nations in Asia and Australia/Pacific area. In August 2000, on behalf of Guang Dong Province, GSO visited South Korea, where it gave a successful concert performance.
In November 2001, GSO presented concerts at Vienna Musikverein Golden Hall in Austria, Brucknerhaus Hall in Linz, province of Upper Austria, and Berlin, Mainz in Germany, and received great acclaim.
Highlight in 2001-2 season, GSO presented a well-received and successful concert with violinist Itzhak Perlman at Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou in August 2002.
In December 2003, GSO collaborated with cellist Mischa Maisky in Europe, including the performances at Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and Luxemburg. Later on the tour, GSO traveled to Egypt, Africa and presented two concerts at Cairo Opera House and Alexander Opera House. 2003 GSO Europe-Africa Tour received great critical acclaim and its artistry level has been acknowledged internationally.
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