Wuxi Symphony Orchestra delivers a concert during its European tour. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]

The Wuxi Symphony Orchestra wrapped up a landmark European tour on Aug 27, receiving standing ovations and sustained applause across three countries.

The tour, which started on Aug 18, marked the young ensemble's most significant international engagement since its founding three years ago.

The orchestra performed five concerts across Slovenia, Austria and Italy, appearing at four major international festivals: the Ljubljana Festival, the Brahms Festival, the Emilia Romagna Festival and the Tuscanica Festival. The tour concluded at the Tuscanica Festival in Italy, where the orchestra's encore piece once again brought the audience to its feet.

Wuxi Symphony Orchestra performs during its European tour. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]

This was the orchestra's first European tour as a full ensemble since Wuxi was designated a UNESCO "City of Music" in 2025. The ensemble, whose members have an average age of just 28, performed a program that balanced Western classical repertoire with original Chinese compositions.

In Slovenia, the orchestra's interpretation of Western classical works impressed even the most discerning European audiences. Darko Brlek, director of the Ljubljana Festival, said that it was the first time in the festival's more than 70-year history that audiences had given a standing ovation to a Chinese orchestra. In Austria, performances coincided with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Austria.

Audience members applaud Wuxi Symphony Orchestra's performance. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]

A centerpiece of the tour was the original symphonic suite Feitian, or Flying Apsaras, which was performed across all four festivals. Inspired by the Dunhuang murals and incorporating elements of China's space exploration ambitions alongside the poetic landscapes of the Jiangnan region, the piece blends traditional Chinese instruments with Western orchestral forces.

One audience member at the Brahms Festival said that the piece evoked images of ancient Eastern frescoes. Following a performance in Italy, another concertgoer described the sound of the suona as "so powerful" and said it was an evening they would never forget.

"The response from European audiences has been incredibly rewarding," said Li Shaosheng, composer of Flying Apsaras and the orchestra's music director.

For the musicians themselves, the tour underscored the universal language of music. "Music knows no borders," said Lyu Wei, associate principal of the orchestra. "Though languages and musical traditions may differ, the applause we receive speaks the same language".