A Message for the KCOHO

From Liu Ju

Greetings! I am Liu Ju, the resident conductor of the National Ballet of China Orchestra. In February 2019, I was part of the National Ballet of China delegation, visiting Washington, DC to collaborate with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra for five performances of the Chinese ballet “Raise the Red Lantern.” This had been the first partnership between a national-level Chinese ballet and a prominent American orchestra—quite a significant moment in the history of Sino-American cultural relations.

Created in 2000 by Chen Qigang who resides in France, “Raise the Red Lantern” demands intricacies between choreography and composition with many elements from Chinese music and Beijing operatic arts. Such elements are presumably exotic to American musicians. However, in genuinely reaching out to one another, artists from both our countries came together to create magic. In just a day’s rehearsals, our American colleagues imbibed the essence of Chinese musical expressions, so that together with our dancers, the American audience was treated to five riveting performances. It is a testament to the world class standards of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.

The ballet music had required traditional Chinese instruments, and these parts were taken up by 13 talented Chinese musicians. As we rehearsed and performed, these instruments became conversation starters which precipitated in deep and lasting friendships. When the curtains fell on the final night, our American colleagues threw such a wonderful celebratory party. At the banquet, Feng Ying, Director of the National Ballet of China, expressed a deep wish to invite the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra to Beijing. That way, we may perform together again, and the Chinese people may be enthralled by this amazing collaboration.

2020 had been difficult year for the world. Classical music and all that is theatrical took a great hit. We in China dearly miss our friends and collaborators in the United States, and Europe. As I write this, the Chinese calendar will turn to a new year, the Year of the Ox. May this year give us the bullish strength and resilience of the ox to defeat the pandemic! May we rejoin the beautiful world of music and art!