New York Philharmonic committed to cultural ambassadorship

NEW YORK — The New York Philharmonic is committed to cultural ambassadorship and to linking the United States and China through music, the head of the New York Philharmonic has said.

From giving performances and building cooperation with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the orchestra's relationship with China dates back decades, Gary Ginstling, president and CEO of the philharmonic, says.

"We are sort of connecting the United States and China through our music. Regardless of what's happening in the world around us, or the challenges between our countries, this connection between music is so important to us and will remain so," he says.

The New York Philharmonic is one of the US' leading orchestras, and one of the oldest musical institutions in the country.

Encouragingly, the New York Philharmonic resumed in-person exchanges with its Chinese partners and audience in 2023, following a yearslong hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Last summer, we were very fortunate to be able to send a group of about nine or 10 musicians to China. I was able to accompany them to Shanghai to begin reawakening our relationship with Chinese musical institutions," Ginstling says, adding that these include the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Orchestra Academy.

"It was so exciting for me to see for the first time in person the young musicians being trained by our musicians, and the sort of the coming together of cultures to learn, to make music together. So it's very special for me."

During their stay in Shanghai, musicians from the New York Philharmonic performed at the Summer Air Festival, sharing their expertise via teaching and side-by-side performances. They also attended the commencement ceremonies for musicians receiving advanced degrees.

Ginstling voices his hopes for more visits to China with the orchestra. "It's really important to us, and we're hoping to work out all the details to make that happen as soon as possible."

"It's so exciting to see how classical music continues to grow in China," he adds, saying that training the next generation of young musicians is something that's also important to the New York Philharmonic and that despite online exchanges with Chinese musicians during the hiatus, the orchestra had all been looking forward to returning to China in person.

The New York Philharmonic has been celebrating the Lunar New Year since 2012, which was the last Year of the Dragon, and is scheduled to continue doing so with a concert on Feb 20, for this Year of the Dragon.

The annual celebration is important for the orchestra and one of the high points on its schedule as it welcomes people from all over the world, Ginstling says, adding that 12 years of celebrating China's Lunar New Year no doubt signifies to the community in New York that it is an important part of the tradition.

Yu Long, the Chinese conductor who launched the annual Lunar New Year concert with the New York Philharmonic in 2012, will again conduct the orchestra for the upcoming performance.

Ginstling adds that Yu has put together a wonderful program that will include new music, commissions, as well as great Western classical music.

The New York Philharmonic has many Chinese musicians, Chinese Americans and musicians from European countries, making it a global orchestra, he says.

Xinhua