"Audiences in China have a deep love for music and for the Philadelphia Orchestra. We are always moved by the warmth of the welcome we receive in the country," Tarnopolsky says.

"The musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra and I are delighted to return to the concert halls of China, and to continue our tradition of pursuing deeper engagement outside of the hall by engaging with communities throughout our travels," Nezet-Seguin told an audience at the National Center for the Performing Arts ahead of the orchestra's concert in Beijing on May 17.

"This model of cultural exchange is a beautiful example of our special relationship with China and a powerful reminder of how music connects us all," he adds.