As the first Chinese conductor to take podium in Wiener Symphoniker in Wiener Staatsoper, Li Xincao’s performance activity involves the world. He has collaborated with famous Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Symphoniker etc. and all the main orchestras and opera houses in Asia and Oceania.

While studying Li Xincao at 22 became the first-prize winner at the First International Conducting Competition of China in 1993.  

In 1997, he became the Finalists in the 45th Besancon International Conducting Competition in France.  

In 2000, he was chosen as one of the ’100 Youths Influential in China’s 21 Century’ by ’China Youth’.  

In 2004, he was chosen as one of the ’10 first Chinese Youth Study Prize’.  

Li Xincao graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music of China and Musikuniversitat Wien. At the age of 20, he had successfully collaborated with almost all of the top domestic orchestras in China including the former Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and National Opera House.  

Since 1999, Li Xincao has led China National Symphony Orchestra on historical tour in the world top music venues such as Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Lincoln Art Center in New York, Sydney Opera House, Tokyo Suntory Hall etc., and has been enthusiastically received by audience and musical critics in foreign countries. Critics once of the New York Times and Washington Post said the following: ’Energetic conductor, Li Xincao, are still grappling with Western style, at times convincing in their phrasing and expression.’ ’Li Xincao proved an admirably adaptive conductor, at home in everything he took on.’ After the concert with Mstislav Rostropovich, Rostropovich said: Li is an extremely talented maestro. In 2007, he visited with premier Wen Jiabao and conducted the closing ceremony concert of 2007 China – Russia Culture Year. In 2008, he conducted Wiener Symphoniker in Wiener Staatsoper and firstly played Chinese opera Mulan.  

Recently he has also greatly extended the repertoire for art and conducted over 30 operas, such as Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflote, Fidelio, Die Fliegende Hollander, Der Rosenkavalier, Salome,Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, Tosca, Manon Lescaut, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Il Trovatore, Aida, and Lucia di Lammermoor etc.  

Li Xincao is Principal Conductor of China National Symphony Orchestra and Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, Professor of Conducting Department of Central Conservatory of Music, standing syndical member of China Musicians’ Association, the Standing Committee of the All-China Youth Federation, Vice Chairman of Central Government Youth Federation, State Council Expert for Special Allowance.

China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) is one of the most outstanding professional symphony orchestras in China. Originally founded as the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China in 1956, the orchestra was restructured and renamed in 1996. Leading the CNSO into the future are Director Guan Xia (Composer), Principal Conductor Michel Plasson, Laureate Conductor Muhai Tang, Principal Resident Conductor Li Xincao, Principal Guest Conductor En Shao as well as Guest Conductor Chen Xieyang.

For almost half a century, the CNSO has introduced Chinese audiences to a vast repertoire of classical, romantic, modern and contemporary orchestral works by both Western and Asian composers. Throughout its history, the CNSO has collaborated with many world famous artists in order to bring excellence to its audiences. CNSO audiences have been thrilled by famous conductors such as Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit, Kurt Masur, Slatkin, Rozhestvendsky, Schwarz and Peress. Other well-known guest artists have included composer and conductor Krzystof Penderecki, instrumentalists David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Mutter, Martha Argerich, Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, Shaham, Wang Jian, Lang Lang, YUNDI, Lin Choliang and Lindemann.

The CNSO has toured throughout the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Australia, Mexico, Japan, DPR of Korea, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, giving successful performances to critical acclaim by the international press. In London, a music critic for The Times praised the CNSO as "a mature group with a vital sound". American music critics noted that "the CNSO is an honorable member of the world music stage". In Europe, critics headlined the orchestra as "a great orchestra appears among the Kings of Orchestral Music".