Wang Linlin
Leading the China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus on its first Australian tour.
Wang Linlin is Permanent Conductor of the China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus, a position she shares with Jing Huan. Under her direction the chorus has substantially expanded its repertoire — moving with confidence between Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, arrangements of ancient Chinese poetry, the choral arrangements of Han and minority folk traditions, and the great Western choral milestones from Verdi to Wagner.
Her programming philosophy is one of integration rather than juxtaposition: the chorus is asked to sing Western opera and Chinese folk on the same evening, treating each tradition with the same technical and interpretive seriousness. The approach has reshaped how Chinese audiences encounter both repertoires, and has positioned the ensemble as a model for cross-cultural choral practice across the region.
In March 2025 Wang Linlin led the China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus on its long-awaited Australian debut — a three-city tour that took the ensemble to Hamer Hall in Melbourne, Adelaide Town Hall, and a finale at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. The Sydney programme paired arrangements of Hezhe, Mongolian, Xinjiang and Han folk songs with selections from Verdi's Nabucco, Wagner's Tannhäuser and Carmina Burana, before closing on a full performance of Xian Xinghai's eight-movement Yellow River Cantata with The Australia Orchestra. Australian conductor and broadcaster Guy Noble shared the podium for the cantata.
Under her direction the chorus has expanded its repertoire to span Carmina Burana, ancient Chinese poetry, and traditional choral works.
On Wang Linlin
