梁祝: World Expo Concert

Shanghai, 27ºC, sunny intervals

Today, Max played the most famous violin concerto in China at the World Expo. Instrumental figures from the Expo were present along with Chen Gang, the composer of the Butterfly Lovers.

My friend had played this concerto at his school leaving concert four years ago, and in that performance I had played the viola in the orchestra. At Max’s first note, memories of that performance came flooding back, memories of the tears that poured down the cheeks of some, memories of the tremendous reception. Very few audiences in England had heard the beautiful story of the Butterfly Lovers told through this magnificent concerto. Now, Max was playing it to the audience it was meant for.

Images of 梁山伯 Liang Shanbo and 祝英台 Zhu Yingtai’s love flashed through my mind as the Romeo and Juliet storyline unfurled. As the final coda played, I pictured Zhu Yingtai throwing herself into her lover’s grave, and a pair of beautiful butterflies fluttering away into the distance. The beauty of the storyline was matched by the softness of Max’s tone, and the reaction of the audience was a testament to his performance. Truly wonderful.