“Appreciation for classical music in China continues to grow and mature, especially among young generations,” writes Christopher Halls in Friday’s (1/11) South China Morning Post (Hong Kong). “Shanghai-born Lin Jiang, principal horn player of Hong Kong Philharmonic … says the growth of Western classical music appreciation in the country has ‘gone through the roof.’ … Apart from a decade-long hiatus from 1966 due to the Cultural Revolution ban imposed on all Western music, the nation’s music lovers have long been eager to explore and embrace Western harmony, notation and instruments…. Today … the nation produces a staggering 80 per cent of the world’s total supply of pianos…. High-profile Chinese musicians such as Tan Dun and pianists Lang Lang, Li Yundi and Yuja Wang have played a significant role in boosting public interest and an appreciation of Western music…. Chen Ganglion, director of the China Symphony Development Foundation [said last year] that in the four years up to 2017 the number of professional symphony orchestras in the country had grown from 30 to 82.” Says Hong Kong Philharmonic Concertmaster Jing Wang, “A lot of halls are sold out when there’s a group from overseas going to … perform, and that is a good sign.”
Posted January 14, 2019
