The Singapore and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras have signed an agreement for artistic partnership and will present each other in reciprocal performances in March and October 2026. Meanwhile,with the launch of SG Culture Pass, most Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) concerts are now available for redemption, including Hannu Lintu’s first concert as SSO Music Director-designate.
To promote mutual cultural understanding and creative collaboration, the two orchestras have committed to inviting each other for reciprocal concerts in both Singapore and Shanghai next year. The agreement was signed on 15 October 2025 by Singapore Symphony Group (SSG) CEO Mr Kenneth Kwok and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra President Ms Fedina Zhou at the 6th Singapore-Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council (SSCCC) meeting in Shanghai. The meeting was co-chaired by Singapore Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong and Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng. Vice Co-Chairmen Singapore Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry & Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling, and Shanghai Vice Mayor Xie Dong were also present.
SSG CEO Kenneth Kwok said, “It is incredibly special to host the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra here in its Singapore debut, and for the Singapore Symphony to return to Shanghai in concert after 19 years. We are proud to deepen the enduring ties between our cities, showcase our distinctive cultures through music, and create artistic dialogue that audiences on both sides can enjoy.”
Asia’s oldest orchestra – the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra – will make its long-awaited Singapore debut on 23 March 2026, at the Esplanade Concert Hall. This performance is presented by the Singapore Symphony and will be part of a regional tour with stops in Australia and New Zealand.
Popularly known for their Oscar and Grammy-winning performance on the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon soundtrack, the Shanghai Symphony will present concert hall favourites such as Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Serena Wang, and Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony, alongside selections from Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavours by Elliot Leung – a vibrant ten-movement suite inspired by traditional Chinese dishes. The concert will be conducted by Shanghai Symphony’s Music Director Long Yu. Tickets are on sale now.
Singapore Symphony returns to Shanghai for the first time since 2007
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra will make its first return to Shanghai since 2007, performing at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall on 13 October 2026. It will be conducted by Maestro Hannu Lintu, who officially begins his tenure as Music Director from the orchestra’s 2026/27 season, and joined by violinist Chloe Chua.
This concert will be part of a larger China tour and follows on from recent sold-out overseas visits – the orchestra’s Australia debut in February 2025 and Kyoto Concert Hall performance in October 2024 – reflecting the orchestra’s continued drive for artistic excellence and international impact. Ticketing and tour details will be announced in due course.
SG Culture Pass credits can be used to offset ticket costs to various arts programmes, including most Singapore Symphony concerts, such as:
Hannu Lintu’s first concert as Music Director-designate
Music Director-designate Hannu Lintu leads the SSO, Singapore Symphony Chorus and Youth Choir, as well as vocal soloists Hera Hyesang Park, Virginie Verrez, Elgan Llŷr Thomas and Edward Grint in two masterworks – Haydn’s Missa in angustiis (popularly known as the Nelson Mass) and Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.
SG60: Stephen Hough Piano Concerto + Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony (7 Nov 2025)
Singaporean organist Isaac Lee takes the spotlight in Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony under the baton of Associate Conductor Rodolfo Barráez. This evening also features British pianist Sir Stephen Hough performing the Asian Premiere of his own piano concerto – The World of Yesterday.
SG60: Hans Graf & Churen Li (19 Dec 2025)
The last SSO concert of 2025 brings together two of Singapore’s brightest classical music talents, as Churen Li performs the World Premiere of Jonathan Shin’s Piano Concerto. It will be paired with Shostakovich’s titanic Tenth Symphony, under the direction of Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf.
SG60: SNYO 45th Anniversary Gala (6 Dec 2025)
Join the young musicians of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) in commemorating a major milestone. Led by Music Director Joshua Tan, and fellow conductors Darrell Ang, Robert Casteels and Leonard Tan, they will take on an ambitious programme featuring music by Glinka, Ravel, Fauré and Beethoven.
Temasek Foundation × SSO Christmas Concert (12 & 13 Dec 2025)
Get into the festive spirit with the Singapore Symphony family. A classic and heartwarming programme led by Associate Conductor Rodolfo Barráez, be prepared to sing along to familiar tunes such as We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Sleigh Ride, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and many more.
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