The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will tour Australia next March for the first time in 30 years, although the timing of Monday’s announcement of this musical diplomacy, just three days after Anthony Albanese’s visit to China concluded, was coincidental.

The tour had been three years in the planning, according to Brenna Hobson, director of programming at Sydney Opera House, one of four presenting partners that will cover the costs of moving 128 musicians between concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Auckland.