KEY POINTS:
It dawned on me last night, during our opening concert in Beijing, that I might have stuffed up in my selection of what instrument to play as a youngster.
Our soloist tonight was Li Wei, a fantastic Chinese cellist who dazzled the audience with his playing of the
Elgar Cello Concerto, but more importantly at the end of his concerto lots of woman ran to the stage and threw flowers at him.
Now, in all my years of playing the trombone, this has never happened to me! (I hear your cries of disbelief). I thought this was something that happened at a rock gig, or a Tom Jones concert, not a classical music concert!
I have really made a colossal mistake, and am now looking into cello lessons.
(Click here for photos of the NZSO at the Forbidden City Concert Hall and in Beijing.)
I spent the morning at the interesting, but ultimately stressful, Silk Markets, trying to buy some souvenirs from the trip. At these markets you don't have the luxury of wandering through a shop and perusing items, but instead every inch of the market is lined with merchants trying to sell you something.
Once you see something you want, then the fun begins. You haggle with them, sometimes ridiculously going round in circles, until you agree (well they are never happy!) on a price and walk away feeling like you have done okay, until you see someone else who got it cheaper.
The items range from copies of designer labelled clothes, to fake watches, to chess sets (which I bought for too much) to tailor made suits (which a lot of the Orchestra bought) to dancing toy cows (which Sally Pollard bought - Aussie!). There is something for everyone, if you have the nerve to bargain and stand your ground!
We were so lucky to be able to perform in the wonderful Forbidden City. Having the opportunity to walk through this amazing residence that housed emperors from the Ming dynasty and is now one of the focal points of China is one thing, but being able to play music in it is a mind blowing experience.
Normally when we are on tour, we would have a morning dress rehearsal and an evening concert. Today, however, we had an afternoon rehearsal and then a 7.30pm concert.
The bus trip from the hotel to the hall is not far, as the crow flies, but in reality with the Beijing traffic it did take a while. We had a good rehearsal, and our first chance to play with Li Wei, and what a pleasure it was to have him as part of this tour. The dress rehearsal was really a chance to get used to the acoustic and get a feel for the hall.
We had a short amount of time to get some dinner around the hotel and then back to the hall for the concert. It was great to see some kiwis in the audience tonight, and have a good crowd to our first concert in Beijing.
It was quite historic that it was the first time the NZSO had performed in China, and it was fitting that the concert kicked off with a very NZ opening. Haley Maxwell performed a beautiful Karanga to start the concert, which was followed by a welcoming speech by HE Mr Tony Browne, the Ambassador of NZ to China.
I think everyone was incredibly amazed at his ease at speaking both languages fluently. I have learnt a few phrases in Chinese, but they are really only for social use!
Well, it's late and we have another concert tomorrow. Tonight's concert is in the incredible new National Centre for the Performing Arts. Simon O'Neill is singing tomorrow night, and am sure there will be woman flinging flowers at him as well. Why did I take up the trombone?
Huru.
David Bremner
Pictured above: The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on stage at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in China. Photo / Mable Wong
Click here for photos of the NZSO at the Forbidden City Concert Hall and in Beijing. Photos / Mable Wong
For more information visit the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra website