The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (SSO-China) have signed a new artistic partnership that will see both ensembles performing in each other’s cities in 2026. The agreement was formalised on 15 October 2025 at the 6th Singapore–Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council meeting in Shanghai.
Under the partnership, the Shanghai Symphony, led by Long Yu, will make its Singapore debut at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 23 March 2026 as part of a regional tour including Australia and New Zealand. In turn, the Singapore Symphony, under Hannu Lintu, will perform in Shanghai on 13 October 2026, marking its first visit since 2007.
The signing ceremony was attended by Singapore Minister for Law Edwin Tong and Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng, alongside other senior officials. Kenneth Kwok, CEO of the Singapore Symphony Group, described the collaboration as a celebration of “enduring ties between our cities” and a way to “create artistic dialogue that audiences on both sides can enjoy.”
Shanghai Symphony’s Singapore debut
Founded in 1879, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is considered Asia’s oldest orchestra. Its Singapore debut will feature Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Serena Wang, Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, and excerpts from Elliot Leung’s Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavours, conducted by Long Yu. Tickets are now on sale.
Singapore Symphony returns to China
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra will return to the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall after nearly two decades, performing under Hannu Lintu, who officially begins his tenure as Music Director in the 2026–27 season. The concert, featuring violinist Chloe Chua, will form part of a broader China tour.
The visit follows a series of international engagements, including the orchestra’s Australia debut in February 2025 and performances in Kyoto in October 2024, underscoring its growing international presence.
Subscribe to our newsletter