Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – Over a month after the performance in the Audience Hall, given by the Chinese musicians, in honor of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, the emotions and impressions of that historic day continue touching people’s hearts, especially that of Conductor Yu Long, Director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra. The Conductor was interviewed by the journal “The Beijing Evening News.” The interview was later published on many Chinese sites, with his photo, even by the influential official government site, “Chinanews.”
Proud to have “participated in a piece of history,” in this “ice-breaking event,” Conductor Yu Long confirmed his great devotion to the Holy Father, as well as his feelings on the event. “What was most moving for me, was the response and commentary of the Holy Father on our performance. He said that it had been the best rendition of Wolfgang A. Mozart’s Requiem that he had ever heard. His comment goes beyond that of any religious leader. I see it as that of a master.” “We had prepared Das Lied von der Erde by Gustav Mahler, but in the end we decided to go with Mozart, as a tribute to the great expert in Mozart that Benedict XVI is and to show our respect and love (towards the Pope) through a cultural approach and recognition, as well as to demonstrate the Chinese cultural dignity. We want the world to see the Chinese culture, in this way showing China’s openness.” Because it is “only in opening our hearts, coming into contact with the world, that we can unveil a totally new China.” Responding to the questions on his experience of performing before the Pope, the Conductor said: “What made me most nervous wasn’t so much the performance, but the speech. I had prepared so many drafts with beautiful words and lots of rhetoric. But at the last minute, I decided to leave the text aside and to say what was in my heart, using simple words.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 17/6/2008)
