US musicians' performance at hospital warms hearts

A group of veteran musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra from the United States have come to Beijing — the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic, and several of them staged amazing performances at Peking Union Medical College Hospital this week.

Philip Kates, a violinist from the orchestra, together with his colleagues, visited the hospital on Wednesday and Thursday to give charity performances, during a trip to China to mark the 50th anniversary of the orchestra's debut performance in the country.

The orchestra, which is making its 13th trip to China, first visited the country in September 1973, marking a thaw in China-US relations after US president Richard Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972.

Kates visited the hospital five times between 2012 and 2019 and performed for patients, especially children in the pediatric wards. He also visited Sichuan province and performed for people who experienced the earthquake in May 2008.

"I wish that the music can bring hope to people, especially for those with illnesses. I believe music helps," he said.

On Thursday afternoon, a large number of people, including patients and doctors, gathered in the hall of the hospital's outpatient building, to listen to a performance by the veteran musicians.

A patient surnamed Wang said it was the first time that she had listened to such beautiful classical music in a hospital. "I was not expecting to hear such a performance, it was a pleasant surprise," she said.

According to its itinerary, the ensemble will perform with the China National Symphony Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Friday.

"This time, we have only 12 musicians and will play small concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Suzhou," he said. "I'm very happy to be here again and I believe these small things will make the world a better place."

Among the 12 musicians, 73-year-old Davyd Booth is a violinist who was on the orchestra's first tour to the country half a century ago.

"I think music is a great communicating force and everybody reacts to it positively. It touches everybody's heart," Booth said. "And it's one of the most important things in diplomacy and the love between the two nations."