China One of Biggest Markets for Classical

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 response, that 1973 Tour left a strong impression. Artists like Tan Dun credit his change in life direction to the moment he heard the concert broadcast in the fields where he toiled (see post seven.)

“Ever since the ’73 thing—classical music has just—I mean it’s been almost like a volcanic eruption," said Davyd. "Now, you know China, the whole Asian culture and Asian countries are one of the biggest markets for classical music. What they have contributed to the world with people like Lang Lang and Yuja Wang...I mean these people are monumentally fabulous people.  

Pianist Yuja Wang

“Lang Lang is a very, very famous concert pianist. He actually came to Philadelphia and started making a name for himself when he was in his early teens—a really, really fabulous, fabulous world-star pianist.

Lang Lang, Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles, France

“They say that the sale of pianos in China is practically the biggest in the world and that literally—I’m not exaggerating when I say this—millions of people now take piano lessons hoping to become the next Lang Lang."

(To be continued. Next: China Celebrates Historic Concert.)