With its rich heritage and signature sound, the Vienna Philharmonic is one of the most celebrated classical music companies in the world. The close ties between Vienna Philharmonic and the center go back a long way. The Austrian symphony has performed five times at the theater, according to Lei Wen, general manager of the center. The two parties signed a five-year partnership in 2017, when the orchestra pledged to host symphony concerts at the center every year. But the orchestra was unable to fulfill the commitment after 2019 due to the pandemic.

According to Daniel Froschauer, chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic, the company has performed in Shanghai with many internationally acclaimed musicians and conductors and collaborated with Chinese musicians, too.