Music crosses borders and cultures build bridges.

　　On the stage of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, the United States, the Philadelphia Orchestra played the last piece of music on the program - the Chinese folk music "Jasmine" at the New Year's Concert.

The fresh and beautiful melody slowly flowed into the hearts of more than 2,000 spectators at the scene. The music style suddenly changed, and a string of energetic notes jumped into the ears - it was the team song of the Philadelphia Eagles!

The audience's emotions were suddenly ignited.

In this intoxicating night, musicians from both countries specially prepared this "surprise" for the audience.

　　On the evening of January 12, two months after concluding its visit to China, the Philadelphia Orchestra invited Chinese conductor Long Yu to conduct on the eve of the Spring Festival, the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, bringing an artistic feast that combined East and West to the American audience.

　　"Music has an incredible power to establish connections between people and build bridges of communication." Ma Siyi, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from Xinhua News Agency.

　　"Just after President Xi Jinping expressed encouragement to Chinese and American artists, musicians from the two countries once again performed on the same stage. Classic works from the East and the West echoed each other. This became a new starting point for exchanges and cooperation between the two sides." China Philharmonic Orchestra, who conducted the concert, and Yu Long, director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and internationally renowned conductor, told reporters.

"Encouragement to all Chinese and American artists"

　　In September 1973, the Philadelphia Orchestra became the first American orchestra to visit China after the founding of New China, and was one of the icebreakers in cultural exchanges between China and the United States.

In November 2023, the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform in China for the 13th time, continuing its musical friendship with the Chinese people that spans half a century.

　　"This is really a special trip to China." Ma Siyi said that he was honored to receive letters from the heads of state of China and the United States during his performance in Beijing last year. "This fully demonstrates that the musicians and musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra Musical works have built bridges between China and the United States over the past 50 years and exerted a positive influence."

　　"Our generation has witnessed the development of Sino-US relations." Yu Long still vividly remembers the craze caused by the Philadelphia Orchestra's first visit to China half a century ago.

"Over the past 50 years, people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the United States have continued to move forward."

　　When the Philadelphia Orchestra visited China last year, President Xi Jinping emphasized in his reply to Ma Siyi that he hoped that the Philadelphia Orchestra would work with artists from all over the world, including China and the United States, to adhere to civilized equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and tolerance, to intensify exchanges and cooperation, and to promote art. Prosperity will open a new chapter for Sino-US cultural exchanges and friendship between people of all countries.

　　"President Xi's reply is an encouragement to all Chinese and American artists." Yu Long said, hoping that through Chinese artists' performance in the United States, American audiences and the art world can more fully feel China's emphasis on strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

　　According to this person who has experienced cultural exchanges between China and the United States, the exchange and integration of art has brought people an important inspiration - "The world is like a huge symphony orchestra. Countries should appreciate each other and cooperate with each other like artists, so that they can perform together." Harmonious and beautiful music."

From "The Moon Reflected in Two Springs" to "Deep in the Night"

　　For half a century, Chinese and American artists have forged and inherited friendship through artistic exchanges and dialogue between civilizations that share weal and woe.

　　During the exchange visit to China 50 years ago, the Philadelphia Orchestra shared the stage with Chinese artists. The performance included both the Western classic "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony" and the well-known "Moon Reflected on Two Springs" by Chinese audiences.

　　"We spent almost two weeks in China, and it became one of the most important experiences in my life. Over the past 50 years, the unparalleled performance has served as a bond." David Booth, violinist of the orchestra, said.

That trip to China was Booth's first time abroad and also his first exposure to traditional Chinese music and musical instruments.

　　Today, more and more traditional Chinese musical instruments are appearing on the American stage, bringing Booth and the American audience closer to Eastern art across the ocean.

　　On the evening of January 12, at the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra’s fourth New Year’s concert, the repertoire included “Ode to the Moon,” a aria from the opera “Russian Water Nymph,” as well as the traditional Peking Opera piece “Deep Night” and the festive and lively “Spring Festival Overture.” 》.

　　Shanghai Symphony Orchestra percussionist Fu Yifei played the Chinese drum in "Dark Night" and the Western timpani in "Jasmine" that night.

"Whether it's a Chinese drum or a Western drum, you can find commonalities in the performance," she said.

　　Yu Long said that this program that combines Chinese and Western elements was carefully planned by both parties.

People-to-people exchanges contribute to communication and understanding between different cultures.

He is particularly looking forward to using the Spring Festival, a traditional Chinese festival, to enhance American audiences' personal perception of Chinese humanistic concepts.

　　After cooperating with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Yu Long plans to go to the United States again from the end of February to the beginning of March to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Under his promotion, the New York Philharmonic has held Chinese New Year concerts since 2012, which has now become a popular New Year cultural event in New York City.

Create a new situation in cultural exchanges

　　Whether he is replying to "old friends" in the United States or delivering speeches to friendly people in the United States, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that the future of Sino-US relations lies with young people.

　　"I hope that the younger generation of China and the United States can inherit the friendship and jointly create a new situation of Sino-US cultural exchanges at a new starting point," Yu Long said.

　　"We cherish our deep friendship with the Chinese people," Ma Siyi told reporters. The Philadelphia Orchestra will visit China again in November this year, "and we are looking forward to it."

He said that the orchestra "will continue to communicate and cooperate with Chinese musicians, continue to strengthen ties with Chinese art and educational institutions, and welcome Chinese musicians to continue to appear on our stage."

　　In previous visits to China, the Philadelphia Orchestra has had many exchanges with young people from the China Welfare Association Children's Palace.

Hearing about the plans of "old friends" from the United States to visit China this year, Zheng Yunhua, director of the Children's Palace of the China Welfare Institute and director of the Little Friends Art Troupe, is full of expectations: "We welcome the Philadelphia Orchestra to China often. We look forward to gathering with them again and playing the movement of friendship together again. "

　　"Welcome to China!" On the occasion of New Year's Eve, the Utah-based American OneVoice Children's Chorus flew from Seattle to Shanghai. As soon as they arrived at the terminal, they felt the enthusiasm of Chinese friends.

　　From skyscrapers to the banks of the Huangpu River, the beautiful voices of American children have sung again and again: "Let us be musical friends!" They made a stunning appearance in a short video to promote Shanghai's city image, and also sang together with the Shanghai Primary School Chorus to welcome the New Year.

　　"Although I have to take a long flight, I am very excited to perform in Shanghai!" "After roaming around Shanghai and getting to know Shanghai, I want to sing here even more!" "I don't even want to leave China!" The children were excited. He expressed his love for this city.

　　"I like China very much!" Choir member Seanna told reporters that everyone she met in China was friendly and her happiest experience was singing and chatting with her Chinese friends. "We have become friends and have no communication problems." Accessible”.

　　Talking about the biggest feeling of this friendship trip, Michelle Booth, artistic director of the choir, told reporters that she really looks forward to "more and more" such exchanges.

　　Planning: Ni Siyi, Xu Zhuangzhi, Xu Xingtang

　　Producer: Feng Junyang, Han Mo, Yang Shilong

　　Coordinator: Yan Junyan and Sun Hao

　　Reporter: Xingyue Xie E

　　Participating reporters: Sun Hao, Guo Jingdan, Yang Shujun, Sun Lei, Xie Han, Li Chunyu indifferently

　　Photography: Xie E, Shenhong Wang Ying

　　Editor: Zhang Dailei, Han Liang, Zhang Yuanyuan, Huang Xingwei, Ma Zhen, Liu Xiuling, Xu Xiaolei, Wang Fengfeng

　　Editing: indifferent

　　Produced by Xinhua News Agency International Department