Fifty years ago, President Nixon pulled back the bamboo curtain separating the United States and China—and the Philadelphia Orchestra stepped across the threshold.

After Western music was targeted for elimination during the Cultural Revolution, a historic visit by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1973 touched hearts and rekindled a love for the music despite years of silence.

Narrated by American and Chinese musicians and historians, the film 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.

Produced by History Making Productions, the film features rare archival footage and first-person recollections. The story 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.

About the Long U.S.-China Institute at UC Irvine

The Long U.S.-China Institute is dedicated to studying contemporary Chinese society, politics, and culture by situating China in historical, global, and comparative perspective. In the interest of fostering bilateral engagement between China and the U.S., we support scholarship and events that facilitate mutual understanding and that highlight a diversity of voices and disciplinary approaches.