The Philadelphia Orchestra Concert in Haikou in 2024. (Source: Yang Shaojie)

The Philadelphia Orchestra will return to Hainan this November, two years after its first visit in 2024. Haikou will open the orchestra's 2026 China residency, with concerts set for 8 p.m. on November 11 and 12 at the Grand Theater in Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center.

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 following the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past five decades, it has toured the country more than a dozen times, forging 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.

The Philadelphia Orchestra Concert in Haikou in 2024. (Source: Yang Shaojie)

In November 2024, the Philadelphia Orchestra made its Hainan debut, becoming the first American orchestra to perform in the province. At the end of each concert, conductor Marin Alsop led the musicians in encore performances of two Hainan songs, "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 also 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 stage is set for the ensemble's return to Haikou. This time, 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." Led by Marin Alsop, the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform in Hainan with pianist Haochen Zhang.