Vienna Philharmonic to visit China

VIENNA－There will be "an extremely excellent orchestral landscape in China", with the increasing number of talented musicians coupled with a strong public interest, Daniel Froschauer, chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic, says in an interview.

China is witnessing a boom in its Western classical music scene, Froschauer says, adding that orchestras in China, like the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, are highly impressive. He cites Austrian conductor Franz Welser-Most as being impressed by the performance while attending the 2018 Shanghai Grand Theatre New Year's Concert.

Continued exposure to the world stage will also allow China to add finesse to musical performances, Froschauer adds.

Numerous highlights were seen in the Vienna Philharmonic's history since its establishment in 1842, including ones when members played at the premiere of renowned pieces, such as Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven. All these experiences have helped shape the world-famous orchestra, says Froschauer.

During visits to China, Froschauer says he noticed that the public expresses a keen interest in the cultural aspects of music. Moreover, they understand it well.

Children in China are brought by parents to witness an orchestral performance, something Froschauer sees as a positive phenomenon. They can then pick up the musical instruments and try for themselves. There are also many respected Chinese musicians whom children can look up to for inspiration.

During its 2018 China Tour from Nov 26 to Dec 2, the Vienna Philharmonic will hold six concerts in Tianjin, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

For Froschauer, Welser-Most is the big star of the tour. The Vienna Philharmonic does not often have a home-grown conductor. Welser-Most certainly adds an Austrian character to the team, says Froschauer.

During last year's visit, Chinese audiences appeared to prefer music with strong rhythms over the constant melody-based pieces, Froschauer says, adding that the orchestra will select music that matches the Chinese audience's taste. Dvorak's Overture Carnival will be included in the coming tour.

China's classical music has always impressed Froschauer with its tonal diversity and richness in melody, such as those in the Butterfly Lovers' violin concerto.