Tang Muhai, once a guest conductor for the Berlin Philharmonic. [Photo provided to China Daily]

She says that the theater used an ID-ticket purchasing system to avoid scalpers.

Since its establishment in 1882, the Berlin Philharmonic has become a cultural icon of Germany, says Christine D. Althauser, consul general of Germany in Shanghai.

After the turmoil of World War II, the orchestra went through a period of rapid development under the leadership of Herbert von Karajan, who worked with the symphony from 1955-1989.

Tang Muhai, one of the most acclaimed Chinese conductors of today, was once invited by Karajan to be the guest conductor for the Berlin Philharmonic.

Tang says he has been impressed by the strong spiritual power the orchestra has displayed through the past few decades, and from which it has developed a distinctive sound.

He says the orchestra is now a young and lively group, playing lots of modern and contemporary music, while holding firmly onto its German and Austrian traditions.

Sir Simon Rattle has been the music director since 2002, but this is his last music season leading the orchestra. Kirill Petrenko will take over the baton in 2019.

Chinese pianist Wang Yuja will perform on the first night in Shanghai, playing Piano Concerto No 2 by Bela Viktor Janos Bartok, a particularly difficult piece.

While the first night features mainly German and Austrian music, the second night in Shanghai will be a "Russian carnival", featuring works by Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky, says Luo.

The orchestra's China tour starts on Nov 10, with two concerts in Hong Kong. It will then play in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Nov 12, and Wuhan, Hubei province, on Nov 13.

After Shanghai, it will perform in Seoul, South Korea, and Kawasaki and Tokyo in Japan, before heading back home to Berlin.

If you go

5 pm, Nov 11. Hong Kong Cultural Center, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. 852-2734-2009. 8 pm, Nov 12. Guangzhou Opera House, 1 Zhujiang Road West, Tianhe district, Guangzhou, Guangdong province. 4008-808-922. 8:30 pm, Nov 13. Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall, 6 Zhiyin Avenue, Hanyang district, Wuhan, Hubei province. 027-8188-0089.

7:30 pm, Nov 16 and 17. Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Road, Pudong district, Shanghai. 021-6854-1234.