“The Pacific Symphony … will make its debut in China on Wednesday,” reads an unsigned article in Wednesday’s (5/9) China Daily (Beijing). “The [California] Orange County-based musicians will perform in five major Chinese cities during a week-long tour, starting with a performance at the Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre. Performances will follow in Hefei, Wuxi and Chongqing, and then conclude on May 15 at Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts…. Pacific Symphony President John Forsyte said … ‘I really believe that music is a universal language, and that when we perform on the stages of China, we as Americans are bringing a rose, a beautiful rose of friendship, to our Chinese listeners.’ … He said the trip is also about honoring Chinese communities in Orange County, which he said has the third-largest Asian-American population in the United States…. Music Director Carl St.Clair, who has led the symphony for the last 28 years, called the trip to China ‘an artistic milestone for the orchestra.’ … Forsyte said he will look for opportunities to bring Chinese artists to Orange County to perform and he will also send musicians from the orchestra to teach in China.”
Posted May 9, 2018
