For Davyd Booth, the 74-year-old veteran violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, touring China is more than just a musical journey — it's a celebration of cultural connection and joy.
Between Oct 31 and Nov 10 of last year, he returned for the orchestra's 14th tour of the country since 1973, taking it to Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu in Sichuan province, and Haikou in Hainan province.
The performances were met with enthusiastic applause, reinforcing the power of music in bridging nations.
The Philadelphia Orchestra has a large fan base in China and occupies a prominent place in cultural exchanges between China and the United States.
In 1973, it was the first American ensemble to perform here after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, an event that marked a significant thaw in cultural relations between the two nations.
The historic visit was Booth's first trip to China and the beginning of his strong connection to the country.
Reflecting on his experiences, Booth says that the bond the orchestra has developed with China is what keeps him coming back.
"Some Chinese orchestras have come to Philadelphia to play, and we have played with them," he says, adding that this friendship is closely bonded.
Last year, the orchestra performed alongside the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Asian Performing Arts Council, or APAC. Booth fondly recalls being gifted a box of tea by one of the Chinese musicians who shared the stage with him.
Over the course of the last five decades, the veteran violinist has made many Chinese friends, connections that extend beyond music lovers to include those who have collaborated with the orchestra, assisted during its travels, or who have reached out through social media.
He speaks highly of the local audience, describing Chinese people as big music lovers. "We feel the energy and love from them just as much as we send it out into the auditorium," he says.
"Although we play all over the world, there's no other country we have become so close to and developed such an enduring relationship with," he adds.
Booth has visited nearly all the major attractions in China, including the Great Wall, the Palace Museum, and the Summer Palace, and says that the country's beautiful landscapes and rich history, which spans thousands of years, are significant attractions for visitors from the US.
Music, which is often regarded as a universal language, is one of the best ways to foster friendship and bridge cultures, he says.
"We have to see our similarities, not our differences, and especially when we play music, it's like the difference sort of melts away," says Booth. "That's one of the great things about music."
Beijing resident Wang Zhenyao, who attended the first concert of the 2024 China tour at the 2,000-seat concert hall at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in late October, shares Booth's sentiment.
Exchanges of culture and arts are conducive to enhancing understanding among the people of the two countries, says Wang, who attended the concert with his wife and child.
During the 1973 tour, the orchestra played a mix of music, including Beethoven's Symphony No 5, and Hua Yanjun's The Moon Reflected on the Erquan Spring. It was Booth's first exposure to traditional Chinese music and instruments.
During the recent tour's third Beijing concert, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the APAC premiered a piece based on the Tang Dynasty (618-907) masterpiece by poet Zhang Ruoxu, A Night of Flowers and Moonlight by the Spring River. It was composed by Mason Bates, who is known for integrating electronic music with classical music.
"It is a special gift to the Chinese audience," says Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Booth was part of the ensemble that performed under the baton of Marin Alsop.
The violinist expressed hope that the beauty of the music the ensemble brings to China will help inspire a stronger China-US relationship.
