Shanghai Chinese Orchestra

Founded in 1952, the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra is the first Chinese orchestra with a modern, full-scale setup in China.  Over the years, it has come to be known for its lyrical timbre, distinguished style and virtuosity.  It is also arguably an instrumental force to the development of Chinese music.

With cosmopolitan Shanghai as its base, the orchestra has continued to evolve and improve. It has, among its members, many famous artists who are recitalists in their own right.  Its versatility is reflected in its wide-ranging repertoire which enables them to perform orchestra music with magnificent sounds, or, the winds and strings of Jiangnan Sizhu, Cantonese music, plucked-strings and drum music as small to medium-sized ensembles.  It has therefore built a wide audience base.  At the same time, the Orchestra is keen to encourage original compositions, thereby enriching its repertoire.  Many of them have won awards in the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival and the Shanghai Arts Festival, and are heard in concerts at home and overseas.

The members of the orchestra have performed in all parts of the world, and wherever they went have won critical and popular acclaim.  The orchestra gave two highly successful Chinese New Year Concerts at the Goldener Saal of Musikverein of Vienna in 2001 and 2003.  At home, it has often been invited to perform for visiting heads of state and dignitaries, and was commended as ‘a Chinese orchestra with the most beautiful sounds’.

Wang Fuijian

Artistic Director/Conductor

Wang Fujian is Deputy Head and a professor in Conducting at the Central Conservatory of Music, Artistic Director and Resident Conductor of the Conservatory’s China Youth Chinese Music Orchestra, and Chairman and Artistic Director of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra.

In 1985, under his baton, the Conservatory’s Chinese orchestra launched the first ever Chinese music concert featuring modern compositions in Beijing.  He has also led the group to Asia and Europe to participate in a series of international music festivals for cultural exchange and touring performances.  He has conducted the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, the Taipei Chinese Orchestra and concerts featuring symphonic works of famous contemporary composers such as Tan Dun, Qu Xiaosong and De Xuntian.  Conducting aside, Wang has also written many works, such as On Broken Bridge– concerto for two pipa, Listen to the Snow for guqin and orchestra, Four Folk Pieces forsanxian and orchestra, The Vulture Catching the Swan for pipa and orchestra, The Flower Drum Song of Fengyang and Herding Cattle.  Many of them, have been chosen as concert programmes by various orchestras. 

Since he was appointed Chairman of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra in September 2005, Wang has introduced reforms and created a new road map for this orchestra with a long history.  With the concerted efforts of Wang and the members, the Orchestra launched the first ever orchestral season in 2006.  Concerts such as Resonances of Shanghai, A Paean to the Earth, to Man and to Life and Fire Ritual have been highly commended by music lovers.