Hong Kong String Orchestra embarks on first Australia tour

Led by violinist Yao Jue, the Hong Kong String Orchestra performed at Canberra Theatre on Feb 5 to celebrate Chinese New Year.

The orchestra is renowned for its fusion of Chinese and Western musical styles. The performance started with a classic Chinese song "Shanghai Bund," after which artistic director Yao personally performed Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," both resonating deeply with the audience and earning waves of applause.

According to the presenter Ausfeng Group, this is the first time the Hong Kong String Orchestra has performed in Australia and also the first Chinese string orchestra to tour the country.

In addition to Canberra, the Hong Kong String Orchestra's Australia tour also includes Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

Before the concert, the Chinese Embassy in Australia hosted the 2025 Chinese New Year Reception.

Ambassador?Xiao?Qian?extended?his?greetings?to?guests,?emphasizing?that?Chinese New Year?originated?from?China?and?is?shared?by?people?all?over?the?world.

"The?recent?successful?inscription?of?the?Chinese New Year?on?UNESCO's?Intangible?Cultural?Heritage?list,?further?enhanced?its?global?significance," he said.

Xiao emphasized that cultural?exchange is an important part of China-Australia bilateral relations.

"Over?the?past?decades,?the?two?countries?have?maintained?close?people-to-people?exchanges?and?frequent?cultural?and?artistic?interactions," he said. "The?Chinese?side?is?willing?to?work?with?the?Australian?side?to?continue?strengthening?cultural?exchanges?and?fostering?mutual?understanding,?promoting?further?development?in?bilateral?relations."