The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra has performed in the city of Putian, a future sister city to Launceston, in China’s eastern Fujian province.
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The concert is part of a 14-day tour intended to build further relationships with Tasmania, one of China’s most significant trading partners.
Around 650 people packed out the Puxian Grand Theatre, with representatives from the state and federal government.
The relationship between Fujian Province and Tasmania goes back to the early 1980’s and helped secure the historic visit of President Xi Jinping to Tasmania in 2014.
The tour has included music by Chinese composers alongside Australian works and 20th and 21st century compositions.
Acting TSO chief executive officer John De Paoli said it was considered a great honor to have the TSO in Fuzhou Province and the three concerts in the province at Fuzhou, Putian and Xiamen.
“An event such as this is considered very prestigious in China and so further helps to build the reputation of the TSO and Tasmania in the Putian, especially as moves have started to create a sister city relationship with the City of Launceston,” Mr De Paoli said.
“We also reminded the audience of where we are from, playing music by Graeme Koehne and Waltzing Matilda.”
Mr De Paoli said it is important to understand the value of cultural exchanges in building on the strong trade, tourism and investment relationship Australia has with China.
He said the TSO is committed to strengthening Tasmania’s connection with one of the state’s largest export partners.
The orchestra will play one more concert in the Fujian Province, at Xiamen and then a final concert in Shanghai.