Most Appreciative Patron in Rice Paddies

In 1973, newly-hired Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Davyd Booth was called to sub for an ill colleague on a tour to China. This was not just any tour. It was the first ever American symphony tour in Communist China.

China, which had been closed off to the world since 1949, was not a very known entity—“like going to Mars,” Davyd said.(See post one.) 

Life in China was vastly different than anything they’d ever known. (See post two.)
The Philadelphia Orchestra landed in the midst of China’s Cultural Revolution. (See post three.)

The Orchestra carefully navigated potential pitfalls, but were stumped when Madame Mao asked the impossible. Would they play Beethoven's Sixth rather than symphony they had practiced and brought music for: the Fifth. (See post four.) The orchestra had not brought along musical scores other than that which they intended to play, and China officially did not have classical music. However, after a thorough search some scores materialized, and the orchestra gave a favorable performance. (See post five.)

They were surprised by the audience’s reaction, which seemed strained. (see post six.)

Despite the tepid public response, that '73 Tour is credited with igniting a fire of enthusiasm for classical music in China.

“One of the things that we hear about even to this day is that a lot of the concerts were broadcast, sometimes out into the workers fields," said Davyd.  It is legend that in one of these fields a young boy toiled in the rice paddies…and was so inspired by the music, he vowed to become a professional musician.

That boy--Tan Dun-- has since become one of the world’s greatest composers, creating the music for the Beijing Olympics, earning an Oscar for his score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and currently acting as artistic director for the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Tan Dun receives Oscar, 2001

“So I mean you hear stories like that," said Davyd. "—Sometimes you think, 'Oh the China trip is real great. This is my job.'  And then you suddenly realize that the thing that you’re doing and the experience that you have can affect people so incredibly, strongly, deeply. In such a life-changing way.”

(To be continued. Next: China One of Biggest Markets for Classical.)