In 1979, American violin master Isaac Stern visited China, followed by his 16-year-old son David Stern.
Today, 58-year-old David Stern is the co-chair of the jury of the Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition. For more than 40 years, he has witnessed changes in Shanghai.
Isaac Stern
The third edition of the competition was held online recently, with global rookies battling off against each other. He said: "In whatever way, free expression is the whole meaning of communication." It is believed that this competition will be an important part of the history of Chinese music, and Shanghai is formulating international standards for music. ”
Don't lose your understanding of the nature of music
Shangguan News: Compared with many violin competitions in the world, how is the Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition different?
David Stern: This race is named after my father, Isaac Stern, who actually hated the game. Because he believes that playing music is to express himself, not to compete with others. He did not want young people to lose their understanding of the nature of music by focusing too much on playing skills. On the field, you can compare who plays faster, who plays more clearly, who plays more harmoniously, but who is more attractive, it's hard to say. Instead of choosing the most skilled, we choose those who begin to express themselves from the depths of the soul.
Quarter-finalist of the 3rd Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition
For example, in the first round, it is necessary to play a difficult showmanship repertoire, as well as Mozart's sonata. The difficulty of Mozart's sonata is not in the fingers, but in the heart, because you have to be honest with the right. For example, we have a session where we play chamber music. Why play chamber music? Because it can test whether the players will listen, whether they will communicate and cooperate with others. We want to pass the test and let the players show themselves in all directions.
Shangguan News: Under the epidemic, global classical music performances and competitions have been affected, what do you think should be the next step?
David Stern: The development of classical music has indeed encountered great difficulties. What we can do now is to use various scientific and technological means to make exchanges continue. This competition has been postponed for a year due to the epidemic, and we are thinking hard to find the most suitable solution and not let the players wait too long. In fact, online competitions are a huge test for both the contestants and the judges.
When I'm a judge, I imagine the contestants right in front of me, even though I'm across the screen. I believe that if there is really talent, even through cameras and videos, artistry can be revealed. It seems to me that free expression, in whatever way, is the whole meaning of communication.
We plan to put the final next year, offline, because whether it is a performance or a competition, the scene is irreplaceable. I look forward to being able to meet everyone in Shanghai on the right day.
The winner of the inaugural competition, Masayuki Kijima
Shangguan News: You often work with young people, what kind of person do you think can become a future musician?
David Stern: Working with young people, you sometimes find that some people are going to succeed, and some people may have something really great in them, but they need some support to make a flower. What my father and I wanted to do was to help the latter, to give him enough soil and nutrients, and the flowers would bloom.
Fill each note with color
Shangguan News: You once said that Shanghai has the best audience in the world, why?
David Stern: I was very surprised by the musical needs, sensitivity and taste of the Shanghai audience. I remember coming to Shanghai in 1999 to perform, and there were people talking, eating, and talking on the phone. But now this situation will never be encountered again, and over the years it can be clearly felt that the audience's understanding of music is getting stronger and stronger.
In China, too much is happening about music. There are many world-class concert halls built here, so many musicians growing up here, and so many audiences regard music as an indispensable part of life.
In 2018, at the 2nd Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition, David Stern participated in the selection consultation
Shangguan News: In 2014 you became the chief conductor of the Shanghai Baroque Music Festival. As far as I know, even in the West, there are very few people who know Baroque music, why do you want to hold such a music festival in Shanghai?
David Stern: At the beginning, I had a lot of concerns, but I didn't expect the audience in Shanghai to respond very warmly. The reason why people are moved by Baroque music, I think, is because Baroque music is always telling stories. The stories it tells are often simple and straightforward, and easy for the audience to understand. There is a lot of embellishment in Romantic works, and Baroque music is like a natural beauty that does not need to be modified, more pure and natural.
The interpretation of Baroque music does not rely on strength and sound, but emphasizes "resonance", allowing the notes to flow naturally and let people hear a harmony from the past. I think both the performers and the audience, when they're in it, they can't help but fall in love with Baroque music. Bringing Baroque music to Shanghai is no different than bringing it to New York or Berlin.
Shangguan News: Many musicians are exploring the future of music, why are you obsessed with digging into its past?
David Stern: I studied Romantic, Classical music in the United States, and my encounter with Baroque music was in Europe in 1990. I worked for 5 years as an assistant for John Elliot Gardner, one of the most important Baroque musicians in the world. Later, I embarked on my own journey to Baroque music, founding the Opera Agni in Paris in 2004. I think you can't explore the future of music if you don't understand its past.
The more I dig into the music of the past, the more we know, and they give music more culture than we do. On the score of Romantic music, the weight of the music, the length of the notes, and all kinds of details are marked very clearly. But on the score of Baroque music, there is no label, you need to "translate" yourself, you need to rely on your own accumulation and understanding to give life to Baroque music, which is a challenge. In Baroque music you have more "freedom" than Romantic music, and you can fill each note with your own color.
Shanghai is developing international standards
Shangguan News: What was the biggest influence your father, Mr. Isaac Stern, on you?
David Stern: My father's biggest influence on me was that he made me fall in love with music. He made me understand that through music, you can become a better person, you listen to others, you know how to communicate with people, how to communicate with the world, how to appreciate beauty.
Shangguan News: Your father's visit to China in 1979 was made into a documentary, From Mao Zedong to Mozart, which later won the Academy Award for Best Documentary. You were an adult at the time, what did that experience mean to you?
From Mao Zedong to Mozart
David Stern: We were greeted with unprecedented warmth. Shanghai is the city that impressed me the most, people here are curious about classical music, and you can feel a strong power of change.
At that time, my father did not want to bring classical music to China, but to understand what was happening here. We learn from the people here, and they learn from us. I think perhaps it was the simplicity, directness and honesty of my father who touched Chinese, who came not as a master of music, but as himself, as a violinist who wanted to communicate with people.
I've had a connection with China since then. Slowly, I learned how to understand the people and things here, and I became good friends with the conductor Yu Long, and I became more and more fond of China.
Shangguan News: As a conductor, you have cooperated a lot with Chinese musicians, how do you view the development of Chinese classical music in recent years?
David Stern: In 1979, Chinese musicians often measured themselves by the standards of the outside world: "I'm a musician, so I have to play this way." "Slowly, Chinese musicians have more communication with the world, and their development is becoming more and more synchronized. There are musicians from All over the world – not just Lang Lang, but many very good musicians and composers are active on the world stage. Music doesn't have that many standards, it comes from everyone who is unique, and that's a big thing. Music never sticks to the rules, it's great because of it.
David Stern on the jury' bench
Some people think that the musical expression of Chinese is very mechanical, which is quite absurd. Over the years, the Chinese musicians I work with have been very sensitive to music, they can understand what you express in a short period of time, and they enjoy the fun of music. China has made great progress in recent years, both in terms of music infrastructure and the expression of musical personality, and what is happening in China is exciting.
Shangguan News: Since 1999, you have been in Shanghai almost every year until the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. How do you think the city of Shanghai has changed?
David Stern: In Shanghai in 1999, the image of people playing tai chi near the Bund was deeply engraved in my mind, and a sense of calm flowed from their bodies. At the same time, I also saw that the whole of Shanghai was in a state of construction, full of vitality and vitality.
Every time I come to Shanghai, I am amazed by how the city changes. The ancient Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is an important symbol of Shanghai culture in my heart, and I hear it gradually find its own voice. I believe that the Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition will be an important part of the history of Chinese music, and Shanghai is setting international standards for music. Global history is like a cycle, and sooner or later Shanghai will affect the world. As a "foreigner", I look forward to seeing Shanghai wisdom and Shanghai solutions in the fusion of local culture and international culture.
This article was published in Liberation Daily on August 26, 2021
Column Editor-in-Chief: Shi Chenlu Text Editor: Zhang Yi Photo Editor: Cao Liyuan
Source: Author: Wu Tong