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How do Asians interpret Beethoven? Is music really a universal language?

December 31, 2009

Frank Sieren hosts Justus Frantz, the famous German conductor.

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We assume classical music is a universal language. But do people in every country feel the same when they listen to Western classical music? Is the way Chinese or Japanese play Wagner or Beethoven different from Western musicians? A famous German conductor and pianist can answer these questions: Justus Frantz.

He used to play with Leonard Bernstein and was the first foreign conducter that directed the Chinese Symphony Orchestra’s New Years’ concert, which is carried live on TV to hundreds of millions.

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"Asia Talk" as video on demand

Frank Sieren hosts Justus Frantz, the famous German conductor. We assume classical music is a universal language. But do people in every country feel the same when they listen to Western classical music? Is the way Chinese or Japanese play Wagner or Beethoven different from Western musicians? A famous German conductor and pianist can answer these questions: Justus Frantz. He used to play with Leonard Bernstein and was the first foreign conducter that directed the Chinese Symphony Orchestra’s New Years’ concert, which is carried live on TV to hundreds of millions.
January 1, 201026:14 min