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Profile: Veteran American violinist strikes a chord for stronger China-U.S. ties

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E-mail Xinhua, December 26, 2024

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Editor's note: This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the decades, cultural and artistic activities -- especially musical events -- have played a vital role in normalizing and enhancing bilateral ties. As early as 1973, a historic tour by the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra signaled a thaw in cultural exchange between China and the United States. Today, the musical landscapes of both countries are more closely interwoven than ever, reflecting a high level of mutual learning in the fields of culture and the arts. This week, Xinhua will release a series of three profiles on this topic, and the following text is the second piece.

by Xinhua writers Wang Xiaopeng, Sun Wenji and Yang Shujun

BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- For Davyd Booth, 74, a veteran violinist with the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, each concert tour to China is more than just a musical journey -- it's a celebration of cultural connection and shared joy.

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 10, Booth returned to China for the orchestra's 14th tour since 1973, which took the orchestra to Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu and Haikou. Their performances were met with enthusiastic applause, reinforcing the power of music to bridge nations and hearts.

The Philadelphia Orchestra has a large fanbase in China and holds a prominent place in cultural exchanges between China and the United States.

In 1973, the orchestra became the first American ensemble to perform in China after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, marking a significant thaw in cultural relations between the two nations. This historic visit was also Booth's first trip to China, and the beginning of his strong connection with the country.

Reflecting on his experiences, Booth said that the strong bond the orchestra has developed with China is what keeps him coming back to the country.

"Some of the Chinese orchestras have come to Philadelphia. They have played there, and also we have played with them," he told Xinhua. "It is a very, very closely bonded friendship."

Last year, the orchestra performed alongside the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Asian Performing Arts Council (APAC). Booth fondly recalled being gifted a box of tea by one of the Chinese musicians who shared the stage with him.

For more than five decades, Booth has made many Chinese friends. These connections extend beyond just music enthusiasts to include those who collaborated with the orchestra, assisted the ensemble during its travels, and reached out through social media.

He spoke highly of Chinese audiences, describing them as big music lovers and incredibly wonderful. "We feel the energy and the appreciation of the love from them just as much as we do, giving it out there into the auditorium."

"Although we play all over the world, there's no other country that we become so close with and develop such a close and enduring relationship with," he said.

During the concert tours, Booth visited nearly all the major attractions in China, including the iconic Great Wall, the Palace Museum, and the Summer Palace. Commenting on the booming trend of "China Travel," he said the country's stunning landscapes and rich history, which spans thousands of years, are significant attractions for visitors from the United States.

Chinese and American leaders laud the Philadelphia Orchestra as an active cultural envoy, instrumental in strengthening China-U.S. ties. For Booth, such a role can never be underplayed.

Music, often regarded as a universal language, is one of the best ways to foster friendships and bridge cultures, he said.

"We have to see our similarities, not our differences, and especially when we play music, it's like the difference is sort of melted away. That's one of the great things about music," Booth said.

Sharing similar sentiments as Booth, Wang Zhenyao, a Beijing resident, enjoyed the orchestra's premier concert of its 2024 China tour in the 2,000-seat capacity concert hall at China's National Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 31.

Exchanges in culture and arts are conducive to enhancing mutual understanding among people of the two countries, said Wang, who attended the concert with his wife and child.

"Both China and the United States are great nations. We should respect each other and understand each other," he added.

During the concert tour in 1973, among the famous pieces of music from the two countries, the orchestra played Beethoven's Symphony No.5, and the Moon Reflected on the Er-quan Spring. It was Booth's first-ever exposure to traditional Chinese music and instruments.

At the third Beijing concert of the recent China tour, the orchestra, together with the APAC, premiered "A Night of Flowers and Moonlight by the Spring River," based on the Tang Dynasty (618-907) masterpiece by poet Zhang Ruoxu. The symphonic edition was produced by composer Mason Bates, who is reputed for integrating electronic sounds and technology into classical music.

"This piece is a special gift to the Chinese audience," Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, said.

Booth joined the ensemble while this piece was performed under the baton of conductor Marin Alsop. The violinist expressed the hope that the beauty of the music the ensemble brings to China will help inspire stronger China-U.S. relationships. Enditem