As a market economy takes root in China, the China National Symphony Orchestra faces new dilemmas, not least how to earn enough money to survive.

"At present, I've received tens of invitations from companies around China. They know our orchestra is the best," said the orchestra's development manager Zhu Xiaoqiu. He proudly recounted their concert tour to Linyi, a small city in Eastern China's Shandong Province early this year.

"Before we went there, the local sponsor told me that people there knew nothing about symphonies," Zhu recalled.

The orchestra specially designed a programme for the locals, adding the Chinese opera, The White-Haired Girl, and local folk songs to the repertoire.

"Afterwards, the audience told us that they finally understood symphonic music," Zhu said.

"Commercial performances are a necessity for our orchestra's survival," Guan Xia, the orchestra's president, explained. "Only 30 per cent of our funds come from State coffers. We must make the other 60 per cent in order to keep the orchestra running."

The conductor Li Xincao, a returned graduate from Austria, has become used to this type of commercial performance.

"At first, I resisted commercial performances. But later, as I stood on the stage, I realized commercial performances are necessary for our orchestra's survival. Since it is unavoidable, why not enjoy the chance to disseminate classical music?"

However, because it is the national orchestra, the Ministry of Culture has set limits to what types of commercial performances it can give. Therefore, Guan Xia and his management team must search widely for money-making opportunities, while always remaining frugal.

As a part of its anniversary celebrations, the orchestra toured the United States in May.

Members flew by Asiana Airlines from Beijing to San Diego, the first stop on the tour, despite there being a five-hour stopover in Seoul.

"This detour saved us money, even though our orchestral members were very tired," Guan Xia explained. "After days of consideration, we chose to fly with the cheaper Asiana Airlines. After all, our orchestra is short of funds."

(China Daily August 8, 2006)