Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra (GSO), one of the China's most celebrated orchestras will perform in the UK for the first time from May 14 to 16.

The GSO's inaugural UK tour, marking the orchestra's 60th anniversary, will begin at London's Cadogan Hall, home of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. They will play in Manchester and Birmingham the following nights.

Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra plays at Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou on April 22. [Photo/gso.org.cn]

For the London and Birmingham performances, the GSO will be led by Yu Long, a conductor described by the New York Times as the "Chinese Karajan" and a "titan" of China's western classical music scene. The Manchester performance will be led by the GSO's resident conductor Jing Huan.

Yu Long, one of China's most influential figures in western music, will hold the baton for the London and Birmingham performances during the GSO's three-day tour of the UK. [Photo/gso.org.cn]

The GSO will perform Duo, a classical arrangement by film composer Zhao Lin, originally written for revered Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The GSO will also perform specially-commissioned pieces such as Ye Xiaogang's Guangdong Music Suite, Benjamin Britten's Four Sea Interludes, and Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite.

This is the GSO's 15th international tour, and celebrates 45 years of ambassador level diplomacy between China and the UK.

Founded in 1957, the GSO is the only Chinese orchestra to have toured and performed in five continents and is one of the first to establish a full domestic concert season.