Hosted by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and co-hosted by the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra and Xinghai Concert Hall, the 2022 Guangdong International Youth Music Week officially came to an end on January 23. At the closing concert of music week held that evening, cellist Yo-Yo Ma gave a soulful speech on the other side of the ocean in the form of a video. This was his last participation in the Guangdong International Youth Music Week (hereinafter referred to as "YMCG") as artistic director.
In a video affectionate speech, "Although it is far away, our hearts are together"
"When I was a child, my parents taught me a poem: Bright moonlight in front of the bed, suspected to be frost on the ground. Look up at the bright moon and look down at your hometown. Tonight, I feel a little sad in my heart because (at the concert site) we weren't together. However, although it is far away, our hearts are together. We find comfort in music, in nature. I see the moon, and you see the moon; you perform music, I hear your music. Thank you all and see you soon! Yo-Yo Ma said.
At the concert, the students of previous YMCG performed Beethoven's Sixth Symphony "Pastoral" under the guidance of conductor Jing Huan, and performed Dvořák's "Ode to the Moon" with Yo-Yo Ma in the form of a video ensemble. Under the direction of Jing Huan, they played Beethoven's symphony, which was only rehearsed for a few days, showing a high degree of tacit understanding; when they played with their mentor Ma Youyou on the other side of the ocean, they showed a sincere, affectionate and not sad confession from the heart.
After the performance of "Ode to the Moon", Yu Long, a famous conductor and chairman of the Guangdong International Youth Music Week Art Committee, said in a video speech: "This is one of my favorite music, which is tear-inducing and touching, and I still remember the first time I played this work with friends. Tonight is the last concert collaboration between Youyou and YMCG as artistic director, and it is also a farewell to the audience and young friends. However, the 'goodbye' is temporary and ritualistic, and the friend will always be with us, and he will return to YMCG to play with us. ”
Recalling three great "transformations" in life, "waking up every day to see hope"
The meaning of music creation, performance and listening has always been the most important topic of music week.
On the international connection of the music week "Leju Talk" broadcast on January 22, Yo-Yo Ma, Long Yu and 2017-2020 YMCG Music Director Michael Stern were "online" again, and online and offline audiences explored "Music Without Boundaries: Musicians and Music Life for the Present and The Future", and the program was highly concerned by industry insiders and fans.
Yo-Yo Ma recalls three huge "transformations" he has undergone. In his twenties, he started his career, got married and had children, under the "collision" of career and family, he understood the meaning of dedication, persistence, and belief; the second change, when he wanted to become a mentor at the famous Tangwood Music Camp, he wanted to help the children enter their own lives, in this experience, he learned to think differently; the third transformation, when carrying out the Silk Road Project, was criticized endlessly: some people said that he did not understand classical music at all, and some people said that he was just a cultural "passer-by". In the struggle between different opinions, he learned to coexist with criticism and learn from opposition. Ma Youyou said that in life, there are inevitable ups and downs, but every morning when we wake up, we always have to ask ourselves whether we see hope, this hope is not only related to personal safety and honor, but also related to whether we can dedicate our strength to others.
Yu Pointed out that during the epidemic in the past two years, many people have used music as a spiritual comfort, which is something that many musicians have always wanted to do but have not done, and found a new way of communication for musicians. Everyone found that playing sincerely, giving sincerely, and presenting art sincerely gave human nature the greatest charm. During this period, many young musicians have bravely innovated, using music to soothe the wounds of people in distress and illuminate the way forward.
Regarding the significance of music, Michael Stern recalls his visit to China in 1979 with his father, violin master Mr. Isaac Stern. He said that there was a deep and strong concern in his father's heart, both on China's musical life and on his audience. The object of music service, in the final analysis, is also a person, which is the original intention of making music.
In their five-year collaboration with Music Week, Yo-Yo Ma and his team have opened their arms to young musicians around the world, connecting young people with music and culture and enhancing mutual trust. As Yo-Yo Ma bid farewell to Music Week, Long Yu, Chairman of the Art Committee of Music Week, was already planning to invite a second artistic director for the future Music Week, hoping to inject a new artistic concept into the Week.
Chen Qing, director of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, said: "The original intention of master conductor Yu Long in founding the Guangdong International Youth Music Week in Guangzhou was to base itself on the Greater Bay Area and look at the world; to use music as the medium and young people as messengers to do a good job of 'Chinese stories, world expression'. Guangdong International Youth Music Week will take Guangzhou, the central city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as a gathering point to become a home for young people and a harbor for friends with music. ”
Text/Guangzhou Daily, New Flower City Reporter: Zhang Suqin
Photo/Correspondent Li Le as Luo Yugang
Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Editor: Liu Liqin