‘We feel highly honoured by the presence of the German Federal Chancellor’, said LANXESS Management Board Chairman Axel C Heitmann. German Foreign Minister Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi have assumed patronage of the German-Chinese orchestra. The project is part of the series of events entitled ‘Germany and China – together in motion’ organised by the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
‘Our growth in China is strengthening our business on a sustained basis, and all over the world. With our commitment we want to further expand our reputation in China and show that we are not only interested in commercial success there but also in the promotion of cultural ties and young talent’, added Heitmann, describing the company’s commitment.
74 promising young musicians make up the newly formed ‘young.euro.classic Festival Orchestra Germany-China’. Half of these comprise selected students from the Music Conservatory in Shanghai. The other half comes from the Young German Philharmonic, renowned for decades as the best German student orchestra. Most of the orchestra members are aged around 25 or below.
Going on tour with them will be some stars of the classical music scene, including Tang Muhai, one of China’s most famous conductors. LANXESS have also been able to enlist the services of the renowned Chinese soprano Ying Huang as a soloist. She performs in all the world’s major opera houses and this season will make her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
The program of the LANXESS young.euro.classic China Tour combines classical compositions with works written specially by young composers.
