Beethoven in Beijing

FAIN: TR-264534-19

CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA 19107-4701)
Samuel Katz (Project Director: August 2018 to present)

Production of a feature-length documentary exploring the Philadelphia Orchestra’s financial struggles and 1973 historic performance in China.

Beethoven in Beijing is a feature-length documentary film that contrasts the thrilling rise of classical music in China with the struggles of symphonic orchestras in America. The story is told through the Philadelphia Orchestra, which made history on its tour of China in 1973, and now, half a century later, is turning to that past to secure its faltering future. The film will be distributed through theaters, public television and online streaming, fueling a robust educational outreach. The hub of this outreach will be a website containing a curriculum for middle and high school students, as well as supplementary webisodes, in-depth interviews, images and performance footage. The story will reveal unexpected and heart-warming connections between two cultures often cast in the harsh light of diplomatic and economic tensions. CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia, a nonprofit fiscal agent, is submitting this application on behalf of the producer, History Making Productions.

Associated Products

Beethoven in Beijing (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Beethoven in Beijing
Writer: Jennifer Lin
Director: Jennifer Lin
Director: Sharon Mullally
Producer: Sam Katz
Producer: Jennifer Lin
Abstract: Beethoven in Beijing, a feature-length documentary to air on PBS’ Great Performances on April 16, dramatizes the resurgence of classical music in China through the legacy of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the first American orchestra to perform in the People’s Republic. In 1973, at the invitation of President Richard Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, the orchestra harnessed the power of music to dismantle decades of isolation between the two superpowers. Today, China is energizing the world of classical music, with legions of young musicians, glittering new concert halls and a lineup of superstar artists and composers. This remarkable story is brought to life through the Philadelphia Orchestra’s nearly half-century experience in China, featuring such charismatic personalities as Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, pianist Lang Lang, and Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun.
Year: 2020
Primary URL: http://www.beethoveninbeijing.com
Access Model: PBS/Great Performances
Format: Film

Prizes

Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film
Date: 9/28/2020
Organization: Better Angels Society

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