CRI听力:Tour of Philadelphia - Like Going Home for NCPA Orchestra

Reporter:
Invited by the Philadelphia Orchestra, China's National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra performed at the Kimmel Center, one of the world's top venues for classical music, as part of its 12-day North American Tour.

The tour is part of a larger initiative to mark the 35th anniversary since the establishment of Sino-US diplomatic relations. It is giving North American audiences a chance to hear some unique Chinese compositions.

Instead of choosing classical pieces that are familiar to western audiences, the ensemble has picked Chinese composer Chen Qigang's work "Wu Xing" or "The Five Elements" as the opening act for each of its performances in the US.

Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter was also in the packed audience.

"Music really does connect people in a variety of ways. And it often transcends whatever else maybe going on. Sometimes there are tensions between nations, but music I think is a way of relieving tension and creating greater understanding."

In 1973, the Philadelphia Orchestra made a bold decision to visit China. Their concerts were enthusiastically embraced by Chinese audiences. This visit has long been considered as helping to write a fresh chapter in Sino-US relations. Since then the Philadelphia Orchestra's relations with China has deepened. In 2012, the ensemble became a strategic partner of the NCPA, paving the way for them to visit Beijing regularly for annual performances.

The Philadelphia Orchestra reciprocated this gesture by inviting the NCPA Orchestra, one of the best Orchestras in China. NCPA Orchestra Manager Ren Xiaolong expresses his feelings about the ensemble's debut in Philadelphia.

"It's like a feeling more of going home. We all know that this is part of an exchange program between the Philadelphia Orchestra and NCPA, but when it comes to the definition of exchange, it won't be a real exchange if this hasn't come down to the the people to people level."

The NCPA Orchestra has had a full schedule during their two-day stay in Philadelphia. In addition to the formal concert, the musicians also went to the Drexel University to give a spontaneous live performance. Dressed in casuals, they showed up in the lobby of the art school building there without notice. The performance did draw a crowd on the campus and after the performance; the young Chinese musicians also had an hour-long conversation with the students there.

Chen Ping is head of the NCPA.

"Communication between China and US has never stopped. The country that the Philadelphia Orchestra visited in 1973 has changed a lot since then. After the reforms and opening-up process, China has experiences rapid economic and growth and certain aspects of its culture have become more globalized. During this tour, we've reached out to the mainstream society and mainstream music halls and audiences. In this way, we tell the story of China and express ourselves using a uniquely Chinese voice. I think this is why music is an important part of cultural exchanges between the two countries."

The NCPA Orchestra will head to Canada over the weekend to continue with its first North American Tour and is expected to perform in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal.

Established in 2010, the China NCPA Orchestra is the resident orchestra of the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. It is positioned as the voice of China's younger generation as most of its members were born in the 70s and 80s. It has so far staged more than 800 performances worldwide.