Maestro fulfilling dream of homeland

"My motto is to overcome one of my mistakes per day, in knowledge, in my profession and in life," Muhai Tang says. He speaks Mandarin, English and German fluently and continues to study Italian. He says he thinks that only when he masters the language of so many famous operas will he understand the music and culture from which they came.

What Muhai Tang's Asian background added to his interpretation of Western classical music is sensitivity, he says. "Our language, emotions and artistic mood are exquisite. Western audiences are happy and surprised to see that."

That is also one of the reasons Muhai Tang has chosen Mahler's works for his two-year project for the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra. The Song of the Earth is a symphony Mahler composed after being exposed to a volume of ancient Chinese poetry translated into German. "He is one of the Western musicians who has the closest connection with China. He could feel the poetic Chinese beauty," Tang says. "It is time for the world to listen to Chinese symphony orchestra, with its unique charm and delicacy, to express their Chinese-style feelings."

In the conductor's room at Tianjin Concert Hall on Nov 22, Tang was scrawling in his music score and making last-minute adjustments to each movement. When his assistant told him that the entire orchestra was ready for rehearsal, he apologized and hurried to the stage.

The moment he had his wand in hand, he was like another man, like a general ready to lead thousands of cavalrymen into battle. But in this case, the players were not adults but children, most between 10 and 16 years old. He is a strict leader, without a doubt, but not as heavy-handed as his reputation would have it. He wrapped his criticism of the young players in pleasant humor.

That night a performance was scheduled for the young musicians, some of the nation's best, picked in the Little Angel Plan contest.

"As I get older, I give more love and care to the next generation, like I do for the 'Little Angels,'" Tang says.

Tang is energetic, like a perpetual motion machine. He is constantly in rehearsals, sometimes having to wolf down a meal between work sessions. On his busiest days, he has a concert and its rehearsal and an opera performance and its rehearsal.

But he seems to be satisfied with the tempo of his life. Unlike a capricious or temperamental artist, he is ready to raise his wand at almost any time.

"Some conductors only perform symphony, some only do opera, and some do both. Symphony is relatively rational and logical, while opera is more arbitrary and flexible. I love both. I like to challenge myself from every aspect."

One thing that keeps him energized is that there are many young faces among audiences in China. "Things are pretty promising, but only under the right guidance."

xiaoxiangyi@chinadaily.com.cn