China’s national symphony, the China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO), is one of the most outstanding professional symphony orchestras in China. Originally founded as the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China in 1956, the orchestra was restructured and renamed in 1996. Leading the CNSO into the future are Director Guan Xia (Composer), Laureate Conductor Muhai Tang, Principal Resident Conductor Li Xincao, and Principal Guest Conductor En Shao.

The CNSO is made up of an outstanding team of instrumentalists, many of whom have won prizes in national and international competitions. The combination of consummate artistry, dedication and professionalism of the orchestra’s players has enabled the CNSO to maintain a consistently high level of performance and to create an orchestral tradition unique to China. The orchestra owes its growth and development in the past 50 years to its successive leaders and artists such as famous musician Li Lin and famous conductors Li Delun, Han Zhongjie, Yan Liangkun, Qiu Li, Zuohuang Chen, and Muhai Tang.

For almost half a century, the CNSO has introduced Chinese audiences to a vast repertoire of classical, romantic, modern and contemporary orchestral works by both Western and Asian composers. It continues to foster a tradition of the People’s Republic of China’s first performances and world premieres. The CNSO’s concerts are frequently broadcast on radio and television throughout China and the world. Many recordings of the CNSO’s performances have been made and published worldwide with the cooperation from the China Record Company, the French Record Company, Philips Record Company and the Channel Classics Records of Netherlands. The orchestra regularly visits quite a number of cities in China, including the major centres of Taiwan Province, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. It has made historical and remarkable contributions to promoting Chinese symphonic works and introducing Chinese audiences to great symphonies of the Western tradition in China, and the successful performances they offer have been greatly applauded by the public throughout the world.

Throughout its history, the CNSO has collaborated with many world famous artists in order to bring excellence to its audiences. CNSO audiences have been thrilled by famous conductors such as Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit, Kurt Masur, Slatkin, Rozhestvendsky, Schwarz and Peress. Other well-known guest artists have included composer and conductor Krzystof enderecki, instrumentalists David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Mutter, Martha Argerich, Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, Shaham, Wang Jian, Lang Lang, Li Yundi, Lin Choliang and Lindemann; vocalists, Giacomini and Jones. After a performance with the CNSO, conductor Charles Dutoit was moved to observe, "I was delighted to find a Chinese orchestra with such high standards, the CNSO has a great deal of potential. In a few years it will certainly develop into a group that will grab the attention of the world. "

The CNSO has toured throughout the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Australia, Mexico, Japan, DPR of Korea, Rep. of Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, giving successful performances to critical acclaim by the international press. In London, a music critic for The Times praised the CNSO as “ a mature group with a vital sound.” American music critics noted that "the CNSO is an honorable member of the world music stage". In Europe, critics headlined the orchestra as "a great orchestra appears among the Kings of Orchestral Music ".

In May 2006, CNSO thrilled the audience during their United States Tour in eight cities, from coast to coast. The concerts were held in major concert halls where world class symphony orchestras often perform, including Avery Fisher Concert Hall, Lincoln Center of New York, Chicago Symphony Hall, Strathmore Concert Hall of Maryland, Boston Symphony Hall and others. The Famous American Conductor and musicologist, Maestro Maurice Peress was moved to say, “The intonation and range of dynamics were excellent. The orchestra is world class.” In his Classic Music Review for the New York Times, renowned music critic Bernard Holland wrote, “This orchestra will only get better, and the chance to hear Mr. Li’s violin playing made the evening all worth while.” Mr. Tim Page, famous music critic and staff writer of the Washington Post wrote in his review, “The China National Symphony Orchestra is a solid, energetic and meticulously drilled ensemble. . . . Everybody in the hall seemed happy Saturday, however, at a concert stubbed with ovations.”

With the concern and support of the audience and music enthusiasts from all over the world, the China National Symphony Orchestra will strive for its prosperity, make unremitting efforts to improve itself in pursuit of outstanding achievements, and make new contributions to the development of China’s art of symphonic music.