Beethoven in Beijing Celebration
Curtis joins with History Making Productions and the Philadelphia Orchestra for a virtual 250th-birthday celebration for Ludwig van Beethoven—featuring an online screening of the documentary film Beethoven in Beijing.
Spend a fascinating evening with many familiar Curtis faces as we celebrate Philadelphia’s cultural history, prominence, and excellence and explore music’s power to cement human connections.
The virtual event includes brief remarks by several special guests, a Beethoven string quartet performed by Philadelphia Orchestra musicians, and a screening of the award-winning film, followed by a Q & A session with the filmmakers.
About Beethoven in Beijing
Beethoven in Beijing, awarded the Best Historical Documentary by the San Antonio Film Festival, dramatizes the resurgence of classical music in China and the role the Philadelphia Orchestra has played in igniting this renaissance. Western music was virtually extinguished in the People’s Republic during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution of 1966–76, but the orchestra’s 1973 visit signaled a reawakening. The result, nearly 50 years later, is a country with legions of young musicians, glittering new concert halls and a lineup of superstar artists and composers who are changing the world of classical music.
This remarkable story is brought to life through charismatic personalities like Curtis alumnus Lang Lang and mentor conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. As orchestras worldwide celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday throughout 2020, the film reminds viewers of the power of great art to transcend borders.