The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is preparing to depart for its Asia Tour 2017 on July 11, which will include the orchestra’s debut performances in China and its first visit to Japan in 19 years.
The eleven concerts will bring the DSP from Tokyo to Shanghai in July, with music director Leonard Slatkin serving as conductor.
“It brings me great pleasure to be able to perform with the wonderful musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in Japan and China,” said Slatkin. “The DSO’s webcast series has engaged a global online audience for six years, and we are now eager to play live for many people who have become fans by watching us on their screens. We are proud of our reputation as a bold and forward-thinking orchestra, and we will always aim to be friendly and engaged with all of our audiences, both at home and abroad, while maintaining the utmost artistic excellence.”
The tour will launch with a free hometown send-off concert in Detroit on Sunday, July 9 at 3:00 p.m. The performance will also be available to watch via an online webcast through the Live from Orchestra Hall series.
“Music is a universal language that inspires collaboration,” said DSO president and CEO Anne Parsons. “With this tour, the DSO is providing unique opportunities for partnership and intersection between the arts, tourism, business, community, and education sectors. The DSO is particularly honored to bring the positive message of Michigan as a premier destination for creative and business achievement, and we hope that this tour stimulates ongoing exchange and cooperation between the great city of Detroit and all the communities where we perform. We thank our tour sponsors for their engagement and support of this vision.”
“Bill Davidson was a long-time supporter of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He wanted the orchestra to travel and represent the best of Michigan and its cultural institutions,” says Ralph J. Gerson, a member of the William Davidson Foundation’s executive committee and an officer of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. “In keeping with his vision, the William Davidson Foundation is pleased to support the symphony’s tour of Asia. China and Japan are of increasing importance to our community, economically and culturally. We are delighted residents of these countries will have the opportunity to enjoy our outstanding symphony just as we do.”
“The DSO is more than a collection of talented musicians. They are cultural ambassadors for our entire region,” said Jim Vella, president of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “We are proud to build on our long history of supporting the orchestra by enabling new audiences to share in the joy of a DSO performance.”
“As longstanding supporters of the DSO, we know firsthand of the rich cultural history the orchestra shares with its audiences and we’re proud to once again help expand the audience abroad,” said Jackie Parker, director of Corporate Giving at General Motors.
