On Aug 14, 1999, the pianist Lang Lang took the place of an indisposed Andre Watts at the Ravinia Festival's "Gala of the Century," to play the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). It was the decisive career breakthrough for Lang Lang and marked the start of a profitable association for both the talented player and the renowned orchestra.

This weekend, at the National Center for the Performing Arts, the CSO, one of the Big Five American orchestras, will play for the first time in Beijing in its 108 years history. For the capital's classical music fans, there can be no reason to miss it.

"From Solti, Barenboim to Muti and Haitink, who takes CSO's China tour this time, a number of world renowned conductors have shaped CSO - a highly disciplined and one of the best-selling orchestras in the world. It has the best brass in the world and its sounds are immensely powerful," says Lang Lang.

For the Beijing concerts, the Amsterdam-born conductor Bernard Haitink has prepared a program that will play to the orchestra's strengths.

Friday's concert will have Mahler's Symphony No 6 and Saturday's, Haydn's Symphony No 101 and Bruckner's Seventh Symphony.

"We want to present the orchestra in the best possible way and so have chosen pieces that everybody feels at home with," says the veteran conductor in a telephone interview.

"It's difficult to describe how good an orchestra is. People listen to it and know what the Chicago Symphony Orchestra stands for. For me, they exemplify motivated music. They are highly disciplined, highly committed and make good music. I enjoy working with these people and believe strongly in them," says Haitink.

The China tour also marks the 80-year-old conductor's debut in Beijing.

"Beijing is a new adventure to me. I am looking forward to discovering it. My son has worked for four years in Shanghai and my grandchildren also live there. They tell me a lot about China," he says.

"A few years ago, I said Colin Davis and Haitink were the two oldest and most influential conductors who have yet to come to Beijing. Now, finally, Haitink is going to be here," says Liu Xuefeng, well-known music critic and former editor-in-chief of the Chinese edition of Gramophone.

"He spent 25 years at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam as its music director. Many world-class orchestras have waited for him but have not had the opportunity," says Liu.

"Haitink became the guest conductor of CSO not long ago but the orchestra loved him as soon as he arrived," says Zhang Liguo, assistant principal of viola of the orchestra. "He is gentle and reserved, but when he stands on the podium, he is transformed into a towering musician."

Born in Shanghai, Zhang is one of 10 Chinese players in the CSO, which has the most Chinese musicians of all orchestras in the world. In 1979, Zhang left Shanghai for New York where he studied at the Eastman School of Music on a full scholarship. He joined the CSO in 1988 and became the first Chinese player in the world-class orchestra.

"I feel so excited at the news that the CSO will tour China. Today, China is considered the hope of classical music and we have many talented musicians abroad. We all hope to perform for audiences at home," adds Zhang.

7:30 pm, Feb 13 and 14

National Center for the Performing Arts, West of Tian'anmen Square

6655-0000

(China Daily February 13, 2009)