For years it has been widely agreed that there is a Big Five among American orchestras: the Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra.

They all have the best conductors and musicians, a huge following and each is a symbol of its city and a source of local pride. The only difference for Chinese audiences, however, is that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is the only one that has never been here.

That will end next month when the CSO makes its first trip to the Chinese mainland in its 118-year history. The CSO will play at the Shanghai Grand Theater on Feb 10 and 11 and at Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts on Feb 13 and 14.

The Orchestra's programs will include Mahler's Symphony No 6, Mozart's Symphony No 41, Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, Haydn's Symphony No 101 (The Clock) and Bruckner's Symphony No 7.

With more than 150 performances and events a year, 107 talented musicians, internationally renowned conductors, the third oldest orchestra in the US enjoys an enviable position in the music world and is greeted with great enthusiasm wherever it goes.

It is also a first visit to China for its Dutch-born, principal conductor Bernard Haitink, who is an honorary Knight of the British Empire and in 2007 was named Musical America's Musician of the Year.

With an international conducting career spanning more than five decades, 79-year-old Haitink is one of today's most celebrated conductors. He has led many of the world's top orchestras, including 25 years as music director of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam (1964-1988) and frequent guest appearances with both the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras. Haitink was previously music director of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden (1988-2002), Glyndebourne Festival Opera (1978-1988), and the London Philharmonic (1967-1979). He is currently honorary conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and conductor emeritus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

7:30 pm, Feb 13 and 14

West of Tian'anmen Square

6655-0000

(China Daily January 23, 2009)