“For 10 years, Jahja Ling has been building the San Diego Symphony,” writes James Chute in Sunday’s (10/20) San Diego Union-Tribune. “But he’s not making any claims, not for what might happen in Carnegie Hall on Oct. 29 as the orchestra performs in the national spotlight for the first time, and not for what might happen in China, when the orchestra plays in Yantai, Shanghai and Beijing in early November.… ‘I’d only say: We’ve worked for 10 years, and this is the result. And we want to share with you this thing we nurtured, our community supported and everyone worked together to make something we are all proud of.’ Ling has every reason to be proud, and not just of this orchestra…. ‘I’ve conducted a lot in China,’ Ling said. ‘But now, to bring this orchestra, something I’ve been working on for 10 years, this is perfect.’ … Although both of his parents were Chinese, Ling was born in Jakarta, Indonesia…. ‘Getting recognition is not the most important thing,’ Ling said. ‘This is a friendship tour. We are hoping to build relations, like in Yantai, San Diego’s sister city.’ ”
Posted October 21, 2013
