A home away from home | German cellist's 'symphonic' Suzhou life

Episode 6

At a concert celebrating the music of Mozart and Mendelssohn that was held at Suzhou's Jinji Lake Concert Hall last weekend, Claudius Lepetit, a cellist from Germany, delivered an outstanding performance.

"That was the best decision I have made," said Claudius when recalling joining the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra six years ago and finding a perfect fit for his career development. Suzhou, a city where traditional and modern elements coexist, has provided him with countless music ideas and memorable moments in daily life.

The Suzhou Symphony Orchestra boasts a group of musicians from all around the world. "The open and inclusive atmosphere here is the epitome of Suzhou's opening-up. The Suzhou Symphony Orchestra has one of the largest numbers of foreign musicians in China and I find the multicultural cooperation very refreshing and interesting," said Claudius.

The orchestra frequently explores the fusion of Eastern and Western music, such as the collaboration between the cello and erhu?(a Chinese two-stringed fiddle). In Claudius's opinion,?this cross-cultural practice "knows no boundaries."

"The vibrato and tone of erhu are romantic, which have influenced my exploration of cello techniques. Many Eastern and Western instruments share similar tones, like erhu and the violin, and when being played together, they can produce a really unique sound." Claudius hopes the orchestra can launch more innovative projects and experiment with the mash-up of different music genres. At home, he even plays and sings the traditional Chinese song "Jasmine Flower" on his electronic organ.

Being in an internationalized orchestra not only allows Claudius to exchange skills with peers from different countries, but also provides the opportunity to meet his idols and learn from them. This April the world-renowned cellist Gary Hoffman, whom Claudius admires, will visit Suzhou, which excites him immensely.

Outside of work, Claudius likes to roam Gusu District of Suzhou where historical structures have been well preserved. The melodious pingtan on Pingjiang Road and the Kunqu opera performed in classical gardens have left him in awe. "Despite language barriers I can still feel the emotions conveyed through the body and music. This is why great music transcends borders."

Source：iSuzhou