Business News
Orchestra builds bridges through music
While most people celebrated New Year at home with their families, members of the world famous City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra saw 2017 in on the other side of the planet, in China. The orchestra arrived in China in late December, for a long anticipated
tour which took in the cities Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Changsha. CBSO chief executive Stephen Maddock – who celebrated being awarded
an OBE in the New Year’s honours list – said that the tour had taken many months to arrange, with the initial approach being made by the Chinese in October 2015.
‘The newness of the venues sums up China’s relationship with classical music’
Stephen said: “We set about trying to put the content and schedule
together, and by April we had a clear idea of what was involved, and that the finances would work. Everything is much more last minute in China, but when we got there it was extremely professional and one of the most straightforward tours we have done.” The touring party extended to 80 people, and once in China, they travelled
between the venues via high-speed trains, although the orchestra’s instruments went by road, which caused one of the few anxious moments during the trip. Stephen said that due to the smog around Beijing, road closures were put in place which held up the arrival of the instrument truck – but it did get there in the end.
The CBSO at the Guangzhou Opera House On a more positive note, the orchestra was amazed by the standard of
the venues, the oldest of which was built in 1998. In fact, the newness of the venues sums up China’s relationship with classical music. Stephen said that the country, which had banned classical music during
Mao’s time, was catching up fast. “The players who had been there before said the audience was much
more aware and attentive than they had been ten years ago,” he said. “The audiences were extremely enthusiastic – the people who were there
were music lovers, whereas I get the impression that some years ago it was more of political thing, with people there because they had to be. “This time, they were there because they were interested in the music – and the audiences were much younger than we see in Europe and America.
16 CHAMBERLINK February 2017
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