波士顿交响乐团到访上海

The Boston Symphony Orchestra was the first American orchestra to visit China after the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1979. On Sunday night, it made its long-awaited return to the country at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center in Pudong.

To a full house of nearly 2,000 people, the orchestra performed one of its signature works - the Symphonie Fantastique by French Romantic composer Hector Berlioz. The 52-minute long piece he wrote in 1830 marked a breakthrough in the composer's career.

Charles Dutoit, Conductor of Boston Symphony Orchestra, said, "I think God was with us to make it work. We did that. I took over all the programs that we planned. Tonight we play the Symphonie Fantastique. Of course it's piece that we have done many times. It's a very good piece for the public, for the orchestra. For everyone. It's very nice."

Soprano Huang Ying said, "Berlioz's work is something that's very close to my heart.　I also performed with Charles Dutoit in 1997 in Canada. Now I'm hearing it in my hometown Shanghai. Of course I feel very nostalgic.”

On March 12, 1979, the Boston Symphony orchestra took a chartered Pan American 747 on the first direct flight from the United States to China. During its 10-day tour, it played four concerts in Beijing and Shanghai. Lawrence Wolfe was a 30-year-old bass player back then, and still vividly remembers the scene.

Lawrence Wolfe, Principal Bassist, Boston Symphony Orchestra, said, "I felt like we were rock stars. We were at the arena there, with the Central Peking Philharmonic. People wanted our autographs, they wanted to shake hands, they wanted pictures with us. It was wonderful. I did not know until now how important 1979 was in the arts, in the dialogue between two countries, the music dialogue."

Wolfe has also taught a dozen Chinese students, and says he's glad to see that the orchestra now has players from China. Harpist Zhou Li, who graduated from the Juilliard School of Music, is one of them.

Harpist Zhou Li said, "The four rounds of tests were tough, and the orchestra didn't know I was Chinese until the final round. I felt proud, not just because I'm from China, but also because I did prepare myself best for all the challenges ahead."

Before playing here, the BSO had two concerts in Beijing last week, and will perform at the Guangzhou Opera House on Tuesday.