The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Power of Cultural Bridges
Co-presented with China Institute in NYC, this is part two of a two-part series.
Part Two presents a film preview and discussion of the forthcoming documentary “Beethoven in Beijing.”
The documentary film “Beethoven in Beijing” by Philadelphia’s History Making Productions follows the Philadelphia Orchestra’s journey in China, from its historic visit in 1973 to its most current engagement, exploring the development of Western classical music in China and the musical relationship between the two countries. A preview of the film will be followed by discussion with co-producer Jennifer Lin, former ambassador to China Nicholas Platt, and conductor Jindong Cai.
This free webinar is open to the public via the China Institute online platform.
Part One discussing the influential book “Beethoven in China” takes place July 21 at 7pm. Registration and more information HERE.
Participants
A conductor, author, and educator with a distinguished career, Jindong Cai is the director of the US-China Music Institute, professor of music and arts at Bard College, and artistic director of Music at China Institute . Prior to joining Bard, he was a professor of performance at Stanford University. Over the 30 years of his career in the United States, Cai has established himself as an active and dynamic conductor, scholar of Western classical music in China, and leading advocate of music from across Asia.
He has conducted most of the top orchestras in China, as well as orchestras across North America, and has written extensively on music and the performing arts in China. Together with his wife Sheila Melvin, Cai has coauthored Rhapsody in Red: How Western Classical Music Became Chinese as well as Beethoven in China: How the Great Composer Became an Icon in the People’s Republic.
Jennifer Lin, co-director, producer and writer, lived and worked in China for four years as Asia correspondent for The Philadelphia Inquirer. She launched Beethoven in Beijing in 2015 after 31 years at the newspaper. For the film, Lin took four reporting trips to China. An award-winning reporter, Lin is author of two books, including a family memoir, Shanghai Faithful: Betrayal & Forgiveness in a Chinese Christian Family (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016).
Ambassador Nicholas Platt served in the Foreign Service for 34 years, and spent twelve years at the helm of the Asia Society before becoming President Emeritus on July 1, 2004. Trained in Chinese (Mandarin) at the State Department Language School 1962-63, he began his career in Asia as a China Analyst at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong from 1964-68. In 1972 he accompanied President Nixon on the historic trip to Beijing that signaled the resumption of relations between the United States and China. He was one of the first members of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing when the United States established a mission there in 1973. He served in Canada and Japan and as U.S. Ambassador to Zambia (1982-1984), the Philippines (1987-91) and Pakistan (1991-92). Educated at Harvard College and Johns Hopkins SAIS, he is a member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations, a board member of the Friends of China Heritage Fund Limited, Chair of the US-China Education Trust Advisory Board, and on the Christie’s American Advisory Board. Since 2011, he has been the Senior Advisor on China programs for the Philadelphia Orchestra. His memoir China Boys was published in March 2010.
About this series
The US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music and China Institute in New York City are presenting the Beethoven in China online series of webinar/panel discussions to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. Author Sheila Melvin and conductor Jindong Cai published the definitive book on the subject and will be hosting this series.
Music at China Institute 华美音乐
Music at China Institute 华美音乐 offers talks, performances, and Chinese music demonstrations, as well as Chinese music classes for children and adults. The program was launched in partnership with the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music. Jindong Cai, a conductor with a distinguished career in the U.S. and China and the founding director of the U.S.-China Music Institute, is the Artistic Director.
Through music, we find new opportunities to reflect on our shared humanity and honor the creativity that inspires us all. Music at China Institute 华美音乐 aims to be such a bridge, connecting Americans and Chinese at a time when we need it the most.