Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Davyd Booth, center, with Shari Bistransky, Counselor for Public Affairs for the United States Embassy to China, and other orchestra members and fans, at Beijing Capital International Airport, November 7, 2023. Booth was in the orchestra when it first visited China in 1973. Photo by Ng Han Guan.
In Tuesday’s (11/7) Associated Press, an unsigned article states, “The Philadelphia Orchestra returned to Beijing on Tuesday for a tour that will mark 50 years since its historic performance in China, the latest sign of improving ties between the two countries ahead of a highly anticipated meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. The orchestra first visited China in September 1973, marking a thaw in U.S.-China relations just as the two nations began normalizing ties after Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit China’s mainland…. The orchestra said 14 of its members will be traveling to China, including 73-year old Davyd Booth, a violinist who was on the orchestra’s first tour to the country half a century ago…. The ensemble will be performing with the China National Symphony Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, starting Friday. The musicians will also travel to the cities of Tianjin, Suzhou and Shanghai, and hold master classes and perform chamber music at schools and cultural venues…. The U.S. and China have been slowly restoring contacts that were largely broken off over the past four years … The Philadelphia Orchestra has visited China 12 times.”
