Stuck on China tarmac, Pa. orchestra plays concert

PHILADELPHIA — A string quartet from The Philadelphia Orchestra has made a lengthy flight delay quite enjoyable for a plane full of lucky passengers in China.

Two violinists, a cellist and a viola player were aboard a flight that was delayed for three hours on the tarmac in Beijing on Friday. They took out their instruments and played an impromptu concert for the appreciative — if captive — audience. Several passengers whipped out their smartphones and began recording as the orchestra played a selection from Dvorak's "American" string quartet.

The instrumentalists were greeted with cheers and applause as they wrapped up their five-and-a-half-minute performance.

A video of the quickie concert was posted online.

The ensemble recently launched a tour of China, 40 years after it became the first U.S. orchestra to visit the country.