Conductor Lin Daye and a Russian musician pose for a photo after a concert in Russia. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]

As Wuxi Symphony Orchestra's principal conductor, Lin Daye, led the orchestra through the final notes of the encore piece Blooming Flowers and Full Moon in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Oct 3, the young ensemble concluded its first full-scale overseas tour.

During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra traversed three cities—Novosibirsk, Moscow, and St. Petersburg—skillfully weaving together a tapestry of Chinese stories and classical music for Russian audiences, offering a profound tribute to the China-Russia Year of Culture.

The Wuxi Symphony Orchestra's trip to Russia, invited by the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Russian National Orchestra, continued their collaboration with the Russian National Orchestra.

As a paid invitation project, all three concerts were listed in the official season schedules of local music halls, promoted and ticketed alongside performances by world-class orchestras. This high attendance in the international music season market not only highlights the artistic appeal of the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra but also marks a new phase in recognizing Chinese culture's global outreach.

"The joint performance of Chinese and Russian musicians conveys a value resonance of mutual learning and coexistence between different civilizations, telling a vivid 'Chinese story' and showcasing a true image of China to Russia and the world," said Zhang Wei, charge d'affaires ad interim at the Chinese Embassy in Russia.

He added that the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra's visit not only demonstrated the cultural soft power but also sent a message to the world about China and Russia's strong belief in building a community with a shared future for mankind through cultural influence.