CSO and Pops to share talents internationally in 2017

Next year, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops will pack their bags and take their talents on the road to 12 cities in seven countries on two continents.

It’s the first time the musical groups have toured internationally since 2009, when the CSO performed in Japan.

“Cincinnati’s orchestra is known throughout the world, and it’s an honor for us to be invited to perform in these important cities,” says Louis Langrée, director of the CSO. “We are proud to represent our community and Cincinnati’s vibrant cultural arts scene to audiences across Asia and Europe.”

The 2017 international tour kicks off March 17 when the CSO will perform at the Hong Kong Arts Festival, and concludes with performances next fall at an array of festivals throughout Europe.

Cincinnati Pops will perform in both Shanghai and Taiwan, and John Morris Russell, who conducts the Pops, says he could not be more excited.

“We’ve sold more than 10 million albums over the years and know that many of our most fervent fans live on the other side of the earth,” Russell says. “There is nothing like a live performance of Cincinnati Pops and the CSO, especially when we are sharing the joy of unbridled music-making with the world.”

The travel announcement comes at both an appropriate and celebratory time, as it was 50 years ago that the U.S. Department of State first sponsored a world tour for an American orchestra — the CSO — in 1966. 

Do Good: 

•    Support the CSO and Pops by donating.

•    Plan your experience to a CSO and/or Cincinnati Pops concert this season. 

•    Get involved by volunteering with the CSO and/or Pops.