The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) concluded its China tour in Beijing last Thursday. It teamed up with a renowned Chinese violinist, giving music fans a night to remember.

Founded in 1906, the MSO is the oldest and the most renowned professional orchestra in Australia and the southern hemisphere. Under the baton of world-famous British conductor Sir Andrew Davis, the band treated the audience with Carl Vine's "Five," a tune composed by a native Australian musician, Bruch's No. 1 Violin Concerto, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, the "Pathetique."

Sir Andrew Davis was appointed the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for his illustrious conductorship. He has conducted so many distinguished concerts including the one celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee. And Paganini Violin Competition's first place winner Lyu Siqing is also an endeared artist among classical music fans. So their teaming up on stage is a rare treat for audiences here in Beijing.

It's the band's first major China tour in sixteen years, as they toured six cities in ten days.

Performing alongside the orchestra was Lyu Siqing, the first Asian violinist to win the first place at the prestigious Paganini Violin Competition in 1987. He is now one of the most renowned violinists on the world stage right now. Lyu is only one of eight Chinese artists that the orchestra plans to collaborate this year. He says the orchestra has a deep connection with Chinese artists.

Violinist Lyu Siqing says, “The MSO has deep connection with Chinese community in Melbourne because there is a very big Chinese community in Melbourne. And it's the very first Symphony Orchestra in the whole world, to present Chinese New Year concert that was six years ago." He says he was invited by them to be a soloist than later with his composer, Tan Dun. 

Lyu continues, "So I think they really like to make music with Chinese musicians, so they have a special program during the concert season called East Meets West. There are four concerts each season, and they invite most Chinese musicians. We have good relations with MSO and the audiences in Melbourne like to see Chinese artists.”

MSO assistant conductor Lyu Tianyi was also born in China. She conducted a piece at the Shanghai concert and is helping the chief conductor make sure the acoustics are perfect.

Lyu Tianyi says, “Melbourne is actually one-quarter of the Chinese population, of Chinese heritage. So we actually have few members of orchestra we really value Chinese artists and Chinese heritage."

Lyu Tianyi continues, "So it's a great pleasure to be here. Sir Andrew was actually here first in 1978, and one of the musicians in the orchestra saw Andrew's performance ended up going to Melbourne and playing in the Melbourne Symphony, so there's a really great sense of history and story here.”

MSO's chief conductor Sir Andrew Davis is hailed as one of the most important figures in the field of classical music. Before joining the MSO in 2013, he served as the chief conductor for many renowned orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

During his tenure, the MSO made its debut at five classical music festivals, including The Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival.