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Xiang Gao honored with loan of Stradivarius
1:52 p.m., Sept. 1, 2006--Xiang Gao, associate professor of music, will add four more strings to his already gifted bow with his recent acquisition of an 18th-century Stradivarius violin, loaned to him for the next two seasons by the Stradivari Society in Chicago. An honor awarded to only the most accomplished young musicians—among them Joshua Bell, Midori, Leila Josefowicz and Gil Shaham—the merit-based award of the multimillion-dollar instrument will give Gao the opportunity to play on one of the world's finest violins. “The Stradivari Society has been very interested in my career and most recently selected me for this honor, but the honor is really a credit to the University of Delaware for its commitment to the fine arts,” Gao said. “The Stradivari Society's chairman, Geoffrey Fushi, and its generous patrons have helped many of today's top violin soloists in the past 20 years. I feel very fortunate to be chosen to join the prestigious roster of the recipients and hope to honor the society with my concerts.” The award also will put Gao's UD-premiered multimedia concerto, The Butterfly Lovers, in the spotlight at many upcoming concerts. One of them is scheduled with the Detroit Symphony in February 2007, and another will be part of the juried and highly competitive 2006 National Performing Arts Exchange Showcase to be held in Baltimore later this year.
Gao, who directed and produced The Butterfly Lovers multimedia concerto, yet considers it a UD production because of the funding and support he received, said that the extra attention it will receive when performed on a Stradivarius can only benefit the University's artistic standing. “I consider The Butterfly Lovers to be a University of Delaware production, because it was partially funded by a General University Research Grant,” Gao said. “So, I feel that its engagement by a major orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, is a very good opportunity to promote UD.” Because Gao also deems himself a musical ambassador of China and feels a cultural connection with the ancient Chinese legend on which the The Butterfly Lovers is based, he said that the production's sudden high-profile success also brings him a certain amount of personal pride. “The fact that the Detroit Symphony is showcasing this concerto speaks to its marketability, and I feel very honored and lucky that they see I've got a creative way of performing today,” he said. “I think this production is a good vehicle for me to introduce the Asian culture to the American public because the story is very beautiful, and the concerto is very special and exotic. And, combined with the narration by Danny Peak and visual presentation by Vincent D'Amico in the multimedia production, it also seems like a piece that's designed for the 21st-century family audience of classical music. “With so many orchestras now looking to reach out to younger audiences and the Asian-American community, I think this concerto enriches the contemporary repertoire.” Set to tour internationally with his newly formed four-member ensemble, China Magpie, and to play under a special engagement with Yo-Yo Ma and his Silk Road ensemble in October in New York City and at Harvard University and next February in Chicago, Gao said that although he'll play the Stradivarius for most engagements in the next two seasons, the UD-owned Ceruti violin is still his first choice for many pieces. In 2003, the University purchased the rare G.B. Ceruti instrument, believed to have been made between 1794 and 1810, from the world-famous violin shop Bein and Fushi in Chicago. “The thing about the Ceruti is that it actually works better in certain repertoires,” Gao said. “Even though that might sound like a crazy idea, because Stradivarius is a much bigger name and more established maker, it's true in my opinion, because it fits my way of playing very well and I feel very connected and comfortable with the Ceruti violin.” Nevertheless, he said, he's going to make the most of the two-year loan and all the attention he imagines it will garner UD. Besides teaching and soloing worldwide, Gao also serves as the artistic director of UD's acclaimed Master Players Chamber Series. “I wear a lot of hats at the moment and am working hard to balance my solo and teaching career plus the directorship of the Chamber Series—no complaints!” he said. “But, as I start this new era in my career, I'm also trying to make time to create music for the China Magpie ensemble that will appear on campus next May. “I like to think that each pursuit benefits the others and contributes to the musical life of this campus. Of all my goals, however, I think the most important is to inspire my students to become more effective and efficient in their practice time and more creative in shaping their own musical careers.” Article by Becca Hutchinson |
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