The Berliner Philharmoniker starts a residential program in Shanghai from July 25 as the prestigious orchestra from Germany will present 11 concerts altogether, as well as joining hands with Chinese pianist Yujia Wang.

This is the first time the 142-year-old Germany symphony is having a residential program in China. In April when the ticket sales kicked off for the four symphony concerts on the program, more than 6,000 tickets sold out within 5 minutes, according to China Shanghai International Arts Festival, host of the residential program. Data showed that more than 40 percent of the ticket buyers were not from Shanghai, but 21 other provinces and cities around the country, as well as abroad.

This is the fourth time the Berliner Philharmoniker has performed in Shanghai, and their sixth visit to China, according to Andrea Zietzschmann, general manager Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation.

"We really want to create an impact coming to China," she told China Daily on June 24.

In contrast to the usual tour schedule when the company would stay no more than 2 days in a city, the residential program allows the company to present "a whole showcase of the Berliner Philharmoniker" as what they do at home.

"So we are not only bringing four symphonic concerts, the wide repertoire with our music director Kirill Petrenko, but we will also do seven chamber concerts, and a lot of educational activities," Zietzschmann said.

"The whole idea is, and the aim is to get to know the people in Shanghai better, to create friendship, to have a good exchange, and to give sort of an idea what the orchestra is like in different aspects."

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