New York - The world's first orchestra founded online, the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, had its much-applauded debut Wednesday evening at New York's Carnegie Hall.

   The audience cheered the orchestra of 96 musicians from 13 countries, who never met before and auditioned online with a clip on the internet video sharing site YouTube.

   After only three days of rehearsals with US conductor Michael Tilson Thomas the orchestra performed a broad programme, including works by Bach, Mozart, Brahms and Tchaikovsky as well as contemporary music.

   A highlight of the world premiere was the internet symphony No. 1 Eroica by Chinese composer Tan Dun.

   "Working with all those musicians online reminds me of an old, arranged wedding," said the composer, who won an Academy Award for the film score for the 2003 movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

   Applicants for the project had to audition online via video clips, and there were no auditions in person. More than 3,000 musicians from 90 countries wanted a part in the orchestra.