Tan Lihua, one of China's most notable conductors (COURTESY OF CARNEGIE HALL)

The Beijing Symphony Orchestra gave its first U.S. performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City on October 17.

The orchestra, led by Tan Lihua, one of China's most notable conductors, performed two works by Chinese composer Guo Wenjing and excerpts from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet.

"We want to bring Chinese music and Chinese sounds to Western audiences and show the development of classical music in China to the world," said Tan.

Soloist Tang Junqiao played three bamboo flutes of different sizes during the ethnically flavored Desolate Mountain, a concerto for bamboo flutes and orchestra. The Washington Post described Tang as "playing beautifully" and "[bringing] out the distinctive buzzing quality" of the bamboo flutes.

The Lotus Overture, the other Chinese symphonic piece played at Carnegie Hall, was written for the London 2012 Olympic Games, serving as must for the passing the Olympic torch from Beijing to London.

The two works were composed by Guo Wenjing, known for his combining of Chinese and Western instruments in his operatic, and symphonic works as well as his film scores.

According news reports, the Beijing Symphony Orchestra performs more than 80 concerts every season, offering a wide range of performances in their unique Chinese style.

(Reporting from New York City)