Chinese violinist Lu Siqing bridges East and West through music

Often dubbed as the 'Paganini of the East,' Chinese violinist Lu Siqing has captivated British audiences with his recent performance in London celebrating China-UK ties.

The concert, co-hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK and The Lord Mayor's Appeal, marks a key event under the UK-China Charity Initiative.

Audiences experienced a thrilling journey of passion, intensity, and mastery - narrated not with words, but with the sound of the strings.

At the heart of the melodies is one of the world's most celebrated violinists: Lu Siqing.

An early start

"I actually began to hear the sound of the violin since I was very young because my two elder brothers also studied this instrument," said Lu, "I asked my father when I was three years old to study the violin, but I was too young back then. So I started at the age of four and half years old."

As a child prodigy, Lu was trained by some of the finest mentors in China. His extraordinary talent earned him a spot at the affiliated elementary school of the Central Conservatory of Music at just eight years old.

At the age of 11, He was handpicked by the British-American violinist Yehudi Menuhin to study at his prestigious music school in the UK.

"I think it was a very fun time," Lu said, recalling his days at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, UK. "When I first went there, I thought I would practice a lot. But in fact, we also studied a lot of other subjects. The class that I really loved was drama. I think it is very good for music students. We are not only players of musical instrument, but also performers. We need to learn how to present ourselves on stage."

From China to the World: A global stage

At the age of 17, Lu's life took a pivotal turn when he became the first Asian violinist to win the prestigious the Paganini Competition in Italy.

"It actually came as a surprise to me because I didn't think I would win the first prize," confessed Lu many years after the event, "my goal is to get into the final. As the competition went along, I got more and more confident. During the finals, I played the violin from my heart and presented to the jury and the audience through music who I am and what I want to express."

His victory quickly brought him into the international spotlight. From the concert halls of Europe to the grand stages of Asia, Lu's musical journey continues to thrive.

Cultural fusion in performance

Among his most iconic performances is his interpretation of the butterfly lovers, a love story from a Chinese folk tale. 

Often regarded as the 'Chinese Romeo and Juliet', the story revolves around the tragic love between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. 

It has been adapted into numerous forms of art, including operas, ballets, and even films, and continues to resonate deeply with audiences across the world.

"I think It's the universal emotions and the beauty of the melody from the concerto that really touched people," said Lu when asked about the piece's universal appeal. 

"There's a lot of imagination in the music. It's like Chinese poems. You can always remember the beautiful melodies from all great works of the classical repertoire," Lu added.

One of the most distinctive features of Lu Siqing's music style is his ability to fuse Chinese music elements with Western classical repertoire.

He often incorporates the traditional Chinese pentatonic (five note) scale and expressiveness into Western violin compositions, creating a hybrid style that appeals to both Eastern and Western listeners.

"When I perform, I'm naturally influenced by my Chinese heritage because I grew up in China and I studied a lot of Chinese culture. It influenced me a lot when I played Western instrument," Lu said.

"It's like making a Chinese ink painting, you need imagination, tenderness and sensitivity. On the other hand you have to have the structure and the depth of the Western music that is so powerful in presenting the music itself," the violinist added.

Passing the torch

After decades of captivating global audiences, Lu began to pass down his knowledge to young talents who dream of following in his footsteps.

He started a new role three years ago as the President of the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao in China.

"It's my destiny as my life has been very closely associated with Lord Yehudi Menuhin. It's fantastic that I can be remembered as a violinist who did quite well," Lu said.

"But I think music is the treasure of mankind. We have to pass the torch to the younger generation to keep this treasure thriving.”

Lu said his ultimate goal is to bring classical music into more people's lives and hearts. 

As he continues to inspire the next generation of musicians, Lu wants to prove that the violin is not just an instrument, but a voice that speaks across cultures.

"Music is the best way to connect people's heart," said Lu, "It not only brings happiness and peace to oneself, more importantly, It can unite people from different cultures, despite their race and background.

"Once you listen to music, you will have the best friend of your life. Everybody can turn their back on you, but music will always be at your side no matter what. Once you fall in love with music, you will never forget about it.”