International Collaborations

Despite a recent history of “import and export” of classical music to and from China, classic music in China can be viewed as “fledgling.” There is a limited yet complex mix of already established international relationships and new ventures to strengthen those relationships, but the potential for true collaborations remains largely untapped.

The Central Conservatory of Music—in many ways the barometer of Beijing's classical music scene—as recently as 2002, still viewed the outside music world cautiously. Only recently have master classes conducted by foreigners been publicized within the school and, indeed, actively sought out. Putting a positive face on international visitors has grown in tandem with a virtual explosion in frequency of these visits.

It can be said that this kind of internationalism is greeted with mixed feelings by many established musicians in the music system. While most are certainly interested in widening the sphere of their own activities and opportunities for their students, certain teachers may feel a degree of threat from opening a system which has sustained them for years. Interestingly, the professional realm, too, has experienced a mixed opinion of internationalism. from 2005-2008, the China Philharmonic and China National Symphony have each done away with their foreign members, citing inequality of pay scale, though the Beijing Symphony has conversely expressed an interest in finding more members from other countries.