Will Chinese orchestra be allowed to play Carnegie Hall?

Will Chinese orchestra be allowed to play Carnegie Hall?

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norman lebrecht

February 01, 2017

Three Yale alumni – Vincent Accettola, Paige Breen and Nicholas Brown – have been working with the National Youth Orchestra of China, modelled on the US version. They have booked a date for the orchestra to make its Carnegie Hall debut in July this year, conducted by Seattle’s Ludovic Morlot.

But it remains to be seen whether, under present circumstances, the Chinese players, aged 14 to 21, will receive visas.

Read on here.

Comments

  • Rich C. says:

    Where in the article does it question whether the orchestra wouldn’t be “allowed” to play in Carnegie Hall? Is Carnegie Hall not available for some reason in July?

  • Peter says:

    The story linked to in the Yale Times, published today and therefore presumably mindful of ‘present circumstances’, makes absolutely no mention of any perception of visa difficulty.

    The Chinese orchestra that has been refused visas for a Seattle trip was refused because their stated purpose and visa applied for did not match. A procedural issue only, as pointed out by numerous correspondents on the article elsewhere on this blog. Presumably the National Youth Orchestra of China can get organised and apply for the right visa, bearing in mind they are students, not professionals.

    In further reference to ‘present circumstances’, China does not appear on the list of countries so far included in the USA’s new regulations, neither has there been speculation that it will be added, at least not in mainstream media.

    What next? A print out of all ensembles planned to visit the USA in the next few months with idle speculation they might not get visas? I am sure there are real difficulties that may arise for ensembles and, especially, individual members of same if they hold a passport not in favour with Mr Trump. But picking one ensemble just because it is in today’s news seems a bit bizarre to say the least and potentially dilutes the impact when a real difficulty does arise and should be reported.

    • Mark Henriksen says:

      You are close. See today’s idle speculation about a cellist who actually has no problem coming to the US.

      • Alexander says:

        I agree with Peter. This is just another waste of breath or someone wants to get some points taking jabs at a newly elected man ( who has a beautiful wife 😉

  • Brian says:

    It would be very interesting to start looking ahead at major orchestra visits and find out if there are members who will be affected by the ban. I truly hope the orchestras which find themselves in this situation will respond in solidarity – “all or none”.

  • Shankha Mitra says:

    Shouldn’t they be kept out so the jobs can go to American students to make America Great Again?

  • Ben says:

    Who cares. Any arts organization could rent the hall to perform — except a few music genres that could be generalized as ‘too loud’, ‘too offensive’.

    This is how many parents from my area brag about their grade school kids performed @ Carnegie Hall.

    P.S. Whoever not competent enough to apply for the right visa deserves to be denied entry, period. Don’t be a hypocrite: If you guys love those refugees, the people who can’t even check the right box on an application form, and spoiled foreigners who think they have the God given right to move into your country as citizens, you go ahead, go take them all. Love them. Invite them to your home. etc etc.

  • Abraham says:

    The NYO of China was a tremendous success as they did play the Carnegie Hall date with Yuga Wang as scheduled. Hats off to the tremendous administration capability and vision of these Yale graduates that made it all happen.

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