Our top hats and monocles are zinging off our heads because Shanghai's major concert destinations have just released a slew of upcoming bookings for the autumn season. Some really great stuff to look forward to for fans of orchestral performances, with tons of international ensembles slated to be with us in the coming weeks. We're looking at world-renowned and representative orchestras from Germany, Russia, and beyond. Here are our picks for some standout performances.

Tickets for these are available through the SmartTicket.cn platform, but not the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra one, alas, it was sold out in like an hour or so. Don't miss out on the rest of these. Pick up your tickets today

This performance marks the opening of the Oriental Art Center’s 2023/24 music season and concertgoers can expect a feast of all-Slavic music. On September 13, led by the Polish master conductor Jacek Kaspszyk, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra comes to the Shanghai Oriental Art Center in a repeat appearance, and with the well-known pianist Chen Sa as the featured artist. Together they will perform works from Penderecki, Chopin and Dvořák.

As the music director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden is one of the most sought-after world-class conductors, and for this performance at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, he will be joining with the renowned violinist Yang Tianwa to perform Mendelssohn's classics. The September 2 repertoire includes the Overture from ‘The Hebrides’, Violin Concerto in E Minor, and Symphony No.4. Ticket prices range from 180rmb to 880rmb. Starts 7:30pm.

SSO's 23/24 music season kicks off on September 10 with conductor Long Yu and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra performing a slew of far-flung classics: Zhou Tian's "Metropolis", Bernstein's "West Side Story Suite", and Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30". Violinist Liu Ming and pianist Zuo Zhang also feature as leads in the performance. The concert starts at 8pm. Please note: tickets are currently sold out.

On September 17 and September 19, Wagner's opera Lohengrin will be performed at the Shanghai Grand Theater. This is the first time that the Bavarian State Opera, one of the world's famous theater groups, has cooperated with a Chinese theater platform. They are collaborating on a modern version of the story, with state-of-the-art stage effects and modern technical modifications.  Of note: Xu Zhong, famous conductor/pianist, and president of the Shanghai Opera House, will be the conductor of this show and leading the orchestra through Wagner's classic. Tickets are 280rmb to 1,280rmb.

Conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev leads the Russian Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, the most authoritative, influential, and artistically acclaimed orchestra ensemble performing Tchaikovsky's works today. This year marks the 130th anniversary of Tchaikovsky's death and the Russian Symphony is presenting a repertoire that includes the most representative Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 6 'Pathetique'. The performance is one night only on Thursday, September 21 at 7:30pm. Note: Arrive early. The first half of the concert lasts about 45 minutes and latecomers cannot be admitted until intermission. Tickets are 180rmb to 1080rmb.

The Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra is known as one of the oldest and best chamber orchestras in Europe and the most famous chamber orchestra in Germany. On September 14, the orchestra will come to the Shanghai Oriental Art Center again, bringing the works of composer Chen Qigang, and presenting the classic works of Bach, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven. The well-known and celebrated European violinist and conductor Jan Bjøranger will be the guest concertmaster, conducting and performing with the orchestra members. The famous Austrian pianist Gottlieb Wallisch will also join the performance.