A violinist plays her solo in the performance of “The Creation” by Franz Josef Haydn. The Shanghai International Choral League presented the entire work for the first time in Shanghai. Members of the orchestra were mostly from the Shanghai Conservatory … Continue reading
Category Archives: Postcards from China
Nanjing was the capital of China for centuries and it thus occupies a special place in the annals of Chinese history. Nanjing is the tale of two cities, the old city surrounded by an enormous wall – and the vibrant … Continue reading
The sylvan scene above is part of the “Humble” Garden located in the city of Suzhou. Although is looks completely natural, spectacular vistas such are more often than not planned and constructed to look completely natural. There is a walkway … Continue reading
This picture was taken by accident. When I went to delete it, something struck me about the way in which the organ itself was blurred by the motion of my Ipad. The picture seemed to reveal something that, at first … Continue reading
Pu Xi is the Chinese name for West Shanghai – it literally means “west of the Pu (Huangpu) River.” These folks are taking in the “older” Pu Xi skyline from their vantage point of the “newer” city side of Pu … Continue reading
I had the pleasure of working with The Bach Choir of Hong Kong in preparation for a performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. The choir is one of the oldest in the city dedicated to performing the masterworks of Western choral … Continue reading
The Chinese love gardens and the cities in the Eastern part of China where I have been spending the greatest amount of time – cities like Suzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou – all are home to many spectacular gardens. So … Continue reading
The dragon is the only “mythical” creature in the Chinese zodiac and represents the “earthly branch” of existence. Dragons can wield tremendous power and take many different shapes and sizes. They are a common architectural feature, especially adorning old buildings. … Continue reading
The city of Hangzhou is about a two-hour train ride to the south of Shanghai. It is much smaller than Shanghai, with a population of around six million. It was the capital of the Song Dynasty and is considered to … Continue reading
Every October musicians of all stripes come to the Shanghai Music Expo, one of the largest exhibitions of its type in the world. It attracts some ten thousand visitors per day. Just about every type of instrument imaginable is represented … Continue reading