Bard Conservatory Orchestra Innovation and Legacy Concert Featured in China Daily and Xinhua
(L-R) Bard College Conservatory of Music Dean Tan Dun and Bard College President Leon Botstein. Image credit: Photography by Matt Dine
Innovation and Legacy, a landmark concert by the Bard Conservatory of Music held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall on October 29, was highlighted in multiple publications including China Daily and Xinhua. The concert, conducted by Bard President Leon Botstein and Bard Conservatory Dean Tan Dun, celebrated two historic milestones: the founding of the Conservatory in 2005 and Leon Botstein’s 50th year as president of Bard. The program featured Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony paired with the North American premiere of Tan Dun’s Choral Concerto: Nine, a bold reimagining of Beethoven’s vision through a global lens. The concert, notes Xinhua, was “more than a performance—it was a profound musical dialogue across eras and cultures.” Tan Dun said he felt a deep connection between Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Chinese philosophy, noting that the ancient Taoist thinkers Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi expressed ideas similar to those found at the beginning of the “Ode to Joy” with its call for unity. “I think there are many, many ways to bring people together,” he told China Daily. “But the musical way is such a unique way, because it can really vibrate in different kinds of hearts and spirits, no matter if you speak a different language, no matter if you came from a different tradition.”
The mission of the Bard College Conservatory of Music is to provide the best possible preparation for a person dedicated to a life immersed in the creation and performance of music.
Post Date: 11-05-2025
The mission of the Bard College Conservatory of Music is to provide the best possible preparation for a person dedicated to a life immersed in the creation and performance of music.
Post Date: 11-05-2025