BEETHOVEN IN BEIJING: 50 Years On
Reflections on the Philadelphia Orchestra's Historic 1973 Trip to China
Watch BEETHOVEN IN BEIJING and then join the US-China Education Trust in a dialogue about the past and future of musical exchanges.
Featuring:
- Jennifer Lin, director, Beethoven in Beijing
- Ryan Fleur, ex. dir., Philadelphia Orchestra
- Jindong Cai, US-China Music Institute
- Sheila Melvin, author & China analyst
After our webinar, we will salute Amb. Nicholas Platt, retired American diplomat and longtime chair of the USCET Advisory Council. As a young foreign service office in Beijing in 1973, Platt played a critical role in making sure the visit was a door-opening success.
Tune in: Sept. 19 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
See the Q&A link on this page for Zoom connection.
About USCET:
The USCET is a Washington, DC-based NGO dedicated to building bridges between the United States and China through education and dialogue. Our conferences, webinars, and exchanges illuminate the cultural, economic, and political forces that animate American society and US-China relations. Our programs focus on policymakers, students, scholars, and journalists in both countries.
About the film:
After classical music was targeted for elimination during the Cultural Revolution, an unlikely visit by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1973 touched hearts and rekindled a love for the music despite years of silence.
Directed by Jennifer Lin and Sharon Mullally, BEETHOVEN IN BEIJING explores the impact of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s historic tour on China both then and now. Renowned musicians, including Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun, Philadelphia-trained famed classical pianist Lang Lang, Philadelphia Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and more, share their stories of how Beethoven’s music shaped their careers as China’s classical music scene boomed.
Featuring rare archival footage and first-person recollections, the documentary brings the 1973 visit to life alongside a behind-the-scenes look at present-day tours capturing the dynamism of China, from its new concert halls to its tens of thousands of young musicians.
