Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin with pianist Lang Lang.
Courtesy of History Making Productions
Beethoven in Beijing
Experience the international impact of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s historic 1973 trip to China.
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Fred Vigeant
Courtesy of History Making Productions
Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin with pianist Lang Lang.
Watch Beethoven in Beijing on Great Performances Friday, April 16 at 9:00pm on WITF. You can stream WITF TV live on our website and through the PBS Video app on Roku, Apple TV and iPhone and Android smartphones. The program is also available on-demand through the PBS Video app.
Great Performances: Beethoven in Beijing spotlights the resurgence of classical music in China through the legacy of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the first American orchestra to perform in China in 1973.
Following the end of China’s Cultural Revolution, when Western classical music was banned in favor of politically themed works, the onset of “Beethoven fever” began. Narrated by American and Chinese musicians and historians, the film explores the impact of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s historic tour on China both then and now. Renowned musicians, including Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun, Philadelphia-trained famed classical pianist Lang Lang, Philadelphia Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and more share their stories of how Beethoven’s music shaped their careers as China’s classical music scene boomed.
Featuring archival footage and first-person recollections from American and Chinese musicians, the documentary brings the 1973 visit to life alongside a behind-the-scenes look at present-day tours capturing the dynamism of China, from its new concert halls to its tens of thousands of young musicians. .
Watch Great Performances: Beethoven in Beijing on WITF Friday April 16 at 9:00pm. The program is available for streaming simultaneously on the PBS Video app, which is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast.
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