Philadelphia Orchestra to Open China Residency in Haikou

The Philadelphia Orchestra will return to Hainan this November, and Haikou will open the orchestra's 2026 China residency. Concerts are scheduled for 8 p.m. on November 11 and 12 at the Grand Theater in Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center.

The return comes two years after the orchestra's first visit to Hainan in 2024. In November 2024, the Philadelphia Orchestra made its Hainan debut, becoming the first American orchestra to perform in the province.

Founded in 1900, the Philadelphia Orchestra is among the oldest symphonic ensembles in the United States. In 1973, it became the first American symphony orchestra to visit China after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past five decades, it has toured China more than a dozen times, building lasting ties with local audiences and arts organizations across generations. Leaders from both countries have praised the ensemble as a "cultural ambassador" between China and the United States.

During its 2024 visit, conductor Marin Alsop led the musicians in encore performances of two Hainan songs at the end of each concert: "Oh, Wanquan, How Clear Your Waters Are!" and "An Everlasting Invitation." Members of the Hainan Philharmonic Women's Choir joined the orchestra on stage from the audience for the special musical collaboration. Beyond the concerts, the orchestra visited Hainan University to run workshops for students and faculty and staged a pop-up quartet performance at the Wormhole Library.

Now, two years later, the ensemble is set to return to Haikou. The city that once closed out the orchestra's 2024 China residency will host its 2026 opening performance.

The upcoming concerts will feature two distinct programs across two evenings. On November 11, audiences can enjoy "A Night of Romance with a World-Renowned Orchestra," followed on November 12 by "East Meets West: A Night with the Masters." Marin Alsop will lead the Philadelphia Orchestra in Hainan with pianist Haochen Zhang.