Response Hides Warmed Hearts

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.)

1973 Beijing Performance. (Courtesy of the Philadelphia Orchestra.)

Yet, the audience did not respond.

“Ormandy got really upset and almost had a meltdown in his dressing room because of the applause," recalled Davyd.

This applause—tepid and polite—could be attributed to the volatile history the people were living through.

“Everyone looked toward Mrs. Mao , and everybody’s reaction—it wasn’t that overwhelming …The Chinese in a way at that time weren’t sure how to react to American classical music, to western music.”
Still, that first concert warmed many hearts, including that of world-famous musician Tan Dun.

(To be continued. Next: Most Appreciative Patron in Rice Paddies.)