by Yang Shilong, Li Xirui
PHILADELPHIA, United States, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) — The Philadelphia Orchestra’s engagement with China has evolved over more than five decades into what its president describes as a sustained, two-way relationship centered on performance, education and long-term professional exchange.
Ryan Fleur, president and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Orchestra, said the ensemble’s connection with China, which began in 1973 when it became the first American orchestra to visit the country, continues to shape how the institution approaches cultural exchange today.
Fleur has been involved in the orchestra’s China programs since 2012 and has traveled to the country 18 times, primarily for exchange activities. He said the orchestra has maintained long-standing partnerships with Chinese musicians and institutions, some dating back to its first visit more than 50 years ago.
“We’ve kept the dialogue going,” Fleur told Xinhua in a recent interview. “Regardless of the broader situation, we consistently find that we learn as much as we share.”
RELATIONSHIP BUILT OVER DECADES
The orchestra’s initial visit in 1973, which took place before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between China and the United States, is widely regarded as a landmark in cultural exchange.
Since then, the ensemble has returned to China more than a dozen times with a full orchestra, in addition to visits by smaller groups. It has also welcomed Chinese musicians, students and guest artists to the United States.
Fleur said that while China and the global environment have changed significantly over the past five decades, the basic nature of cultural exchange has remained steady.
“At some level, the work itself hasn’t changed,” he said. “It’s about showing up, performing at a high level, sharing what we do, and receiving in return.”
Fleur said one of the most noticeable developments during his years of travel to China has been the improvement in the overall quality of orchestral performance.
“Chinese musicians have always had very strong technical skills,” he said. “What has improved greatly over the years is ensemble playing — the way musicians listen to each other and work together. The level today is very high.”
He also pointed to the growing presence of younger audiences as a sign of continued vitality in musical exchange.
“Wherever we go to perform, the audiences tend to be younger,” Fleur said. Many Chinese students receive extensive musical training, particularly in piano and string instruments, contributing to a broad base of interest in classical music, he added.
EDUCATION AS CORE PRACTICE
According to Fleur, education has long been central to the orchestra’s international engagement. In addition to formal concerts, exchange programs often include master classes, workshops, side-by-side rehearsals and smaller performances designed to reach students and local communities.
“When we travel, it’s not only about the concert,” he said. “It might be teaching a lesson, giving a master class, working directly with young musicians, or performing in a setting that connects with local culture.”
In recent years, the orchestra has expanded its activities beyond major metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai to include cities such as Chengdu, Haikou and Hangzhou.
The orchestra’s exchange with China is also reflected in its programs in the United States. It began presenting Lunar New Year concerts in 2019 and has continued the series annually since in-person performances resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic.
At its most recent Lunar New Year concert in Philadelphia, the orchestra collaborated with musicians from China’s Central Conservatory of Music to present a program that combined Chinese and Western repertoire.
Fleur said such concerts increase the local community’s engagement with global culture and reflect the orchestra’s belief that cultural exchange should be reciprocal.
In a reply to a letter from the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he hopes the orchestra and artists from China, the United States and across the world will continue the efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties between China and the United States and spread friendship among peoples of the world.
Fleur described the message as recognition of the orchestra’s long-term commitment to people-to-people exchanges through music.
Looking forward, Fleur said the orchestra hopes to expand the reach of its China programs and host more Chinese ensembles and artists to perform in the United States, particularly in Philadelphia.
“Exchange works best when it’s sustained and when it moves in both directions,” he said. ■
