The World Orchestra for Peace with artists from 35 top orchestras worldwide will stage a concert at Zhongshan Concert Hall here in Beijing on Sept. 2 to mark the 60th anniversary of the victory of anti-Fascist war and also the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japan.

The chief organizer, China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG), said here Thursday the troupe will be headed and directed by 52-year-old Russian director Valery Gergiev, who was entitled the Russian hero for revitalizing the Russian Kirov Theater. The orchestra will make a performance tour in four big cities which were of great significance in the World War II, including Beijing, London, Berlin, and Moscow. Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations, attached much importance to the orchestra's performance tour, and wrote a congratulation for the troupe.

At the concert, Chinese audience will enjoy masterpieces by greatest musicians like Rossini, Debussy, Wagner. A new piece of work by Finnish composer and director Esa-Pekka Salonen will also make its world premiere in Beijing.

According to CAEG, the orchestra was founded in 1995 to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the United Nations. Over the past 10 years, the orchestra has participated in many important artistic festivals and celebrations marking historic events.

The upcoming performance in China will invite top musicians including Rainer Kuchl, chief violin player of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Wilfried Strehle, chief viola player of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, and Larry Combs, chief clarinet of the Chicago Orchestra of the United States.

Source: Xinhua