China National Symphony Orchestra

The China National Symphony Orchestra is a Beijing-based state orchestra administered by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It was founded in 1956 as the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China and took its present name after a 1996 restructuring, when it became the first professional Chinese orchestra to launch a subscription concert season. It gave the first performances in China of Beethoven's Ninth and Dvorak's New World symphonies, premiered the Yellow River piano concerto in 1970, and has commissioned and premiered more than a hundred original Chinese works. The orchestra tours extensively, with appearances at the Musikverein, Berliner Philharmonie, Concertgebouw and Lincoln Center.