Life

Shows that shone

By Raymond Zhou and Chen Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-28 08:04

Yu Long's symphonic adventures

Maestro Yu Long (pictured left) is known for his suave musicianship and deep connections, but his multiple talents include experimental endeavors at outreach. In January, he invited Shanghai-based comedian Zhou Libo to narrate a concert of classical music - in the manner of standup comedy. This caused a ruckus among diehard classical fans who deemed it a "degradation".

On July 13, Yu conducted the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in a concert at New York's Central Park for an audience of 60,000.

"They knew exactly where to applaud and where to be silent. This is the kind of atmosphere Chinese musicians crave and what Chinese music lovers need," Yu expounded.

In a sense, his maverick efforts at outreach are aiming for this goal.