For the first few years, there was conflict among these associates. Following the death of Defense Minister Lin Biao in 1971, Zhou Enlai worked to restore stability. It was Zhou who was behind the push to develop a closer relationship with the West, and classical music was central to this initiative. The first public performance of foreign music by foreign musicians occurred early in 1973 when Swiss cellist Henri Honegger performed programs in Beijing and Shanghai. Two western orchestras preceded the Philadelphia Orchestra to China: in March 1973, the London Philharmonic ( John Pritchard, conductor) performed five concerts, and the Vienna Philharmonic (Claudio Abbado, conductor) performed four concerts, the last of which included the Yellow River Concerto, with Yin Chengzong as soloist.