The China National Traditional Orchestra is the world’s largest comprehensive state-level music ensemble with the most complete set of national musical instruments. It is composed of a large-sized Chinese traditional orchestra, a Chinese traditional chorus, a performance department, an art studio, etc. The orchestra was founded in 1960 under the auspices of Premier ZHOU Enlai. Its first managing director was Mr. LI Huanzhi, a famous composer and former President of Chinese Musicians’ Association. The orchestra is managed by LIU Jie as Party Secretary, ZHAO Cong as Managing Director and Deputy Party Secretary, LIU Yupu as Secretary of Discipline Inspection Commission, TANG Feng as Deputy Managing Director, and WANG Huayu as Deputy Managing Director.
Remaining committed to carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture; the orchestra has created and staged many excellent folk musical works, and given birth to a high number of folk music performers and composers, promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of the excellent traditional Chinese culture. The orchestra has toured Peru, Russia, etc., and has also delivered performances on invitation at many national diplomatic occasions including the APEC Conference, Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, etc., receiving much praise from numerous foreign leaders.
Over the years, the orchestra has adhered to the development idea and goal of “diversification” and “nationalization” in inheriting and excavating the essence of China’s thousands of years of traditional music culture, presenting a variety of national art forms, establishing a unique performance performing style. Chinese traditional orchestra and chorus have won many awards at domestic and foreign art festivals. Additionally, the chorus won the highest honour, i.e., the gold award, at the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students.
The orchestra has conducted intercultural exchanges with more than 30 countries and regions in the world, and visited many countries in five continents including Russia, the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Egypt, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Peru, etc. At the same time, the orchestra conducts regular cultural exchanges with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, strengthening the family ties among all our compatriots.
The orchestra has many classic pieces under its repertoire including the national musical trilogy Impressions of Chinese Music, Rediscover Chinese Music and Xuanzang’s Pilgrimage, folk concerts Splendor of Folk Music and Lingering Folk Music, large-scale audiovisual concert Eternal Worldly Joy - China Festival, and folk concert Singing an Innermost Song for the Party.
