Davyd Booth's 50-year association with China started with a coincidence – and has witnessed huge changes since. 

As a 23-year-old violinist, Booth was one of the members of the Philadelphia Orchestra's 1973 visit to China, a year after the then U.S. President Richard Nixon's China visit symbolized the normalization of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and China.

Now 73, he still tours with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and has been back to China frequently, most recently four years ago. He said it is like a journey to a "home away from home."

That wasn't the case 50 years ago. As a young man who had barely started his career, he only passed the audition to join the pioneering tour at the last minute, when another violinist fell ill. 

As such, he could never have expected how much his life would intertwine with a far-away land on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

"It was the first time I was out of the United States, and it was the first trip I ever took," says Booth. Before the journey, all his knowledge of China came from geography books and the international news.

He was struck by the cultural differences as soon as he got off the plane at the Beijing Airport. Some of the first impressions remains vivid for his, even after 50 years.

"The most vivid memory I have is a farmer working out in the field, in a wooden cart with wooden wheels, and it was being pulled by a water buffalo," he recalls. "There weren't very many cars, or any kind of gas engine vehicles. There were literally hundreds and thousands of bicycles, and I'll never forget that sight."

The Philadelphia Orchestra played several pieces, including Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony No. 6 and a Chinese piece, the Yellow River Concerto. At a time when orchestra music was not prevalent in China, the performance was broadcast via radio to the whole nation – and inspired a lot of young people.

"Fifty years now, I'm still meeting and connecting with people that were at the 1973 concert," said Booth. "One of the most beautiful things about music is that it really has the power to inspire people. I would be very happy that my music would inspire people to build bridges."

Booth mentions one person inspired by the concert was Tan Dun, then a young man working in the fields. Hearing the radio broadcast, he made up his mind to become a musician. Now world-renowned, he once performed on the same stage as the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Since 1973 the Philadelphia Orchestra has regularly returned to China – this year marks its 13th trip. Booth has therefore witnessed the changes happening in China over the past 50 years.

"When we went back, China was totally different," he says. "Suddenly there were big buildings. Beijing was a metropolis city, and it has grown so quickly. I don't think I've ever been aware of a country developing at such an enormously fast rate."

The orchestra has changed too, hiring more and more Chinese musicians, as well as more cooperated performances with their Chinese peers. From New Year concerts to masterclasses, the musicians from both countries have been intertwined with each other.

An increasing number of Chinese musical pieces have also been added to the performance list. During this year's event, the Philadelphia Orchestra is playing a piece, Echo of the Tang Poetry, based on understanding Chinese ancient poetries.

The orchestra's tour around China continues to Tianjin, Shanghai and Suzhou. Looking back on the past 50 years, calls this "one of the most important long-running threads" of his own life.

And while the bilateral relations between the two countries have gone through ups and downs in recent years, Booth always remain optimistic about the bonding. With the upcoming meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping with the U.S. President Joe Biden, he says he believes that the top leaders of both countries are aware of the power and importance of cultural exchanges.

"The positive force that we are dealing with will make the negativity go away," he smiles.

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