As the concert master of the United Musicians Symphony Orchestra and the Livie Chamber Orchestra in Los Angeles, the internationally acclaimed violinist Su Youmin (Elmer Su) has much to be proud of.
Nevertheless, when he appeared for the first time in front of a Shanghai audience at Shanghai Grand Theatre last night, he remained modest and polite.
Though the performance was only held at Shanghai Grand Theatre for one night, Su had still taken hours to rehearse with the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra.
Chen Bingmao (Jess Chen), a friend of Su and also first violin in Su's current orchestra, said: "Sometimes we even feel he is crazy, as he spends at least three hours a day practising. Many masters like him no longer undertake such toilsome work every day. His toleration for loneliness and boredom, apart from his talent, have forged his success."
When Su looks up, a bruise on his neck can be easily seen. It is a mark left by years of hard work and is a sign of his incessant diligence.
Su's mentor Edwin Deveny once commented after co-operating with him in a successful performance: "I'm honoured to have the opportunity to work with Mr Su for the past six years and see him gradually grow into a world-class violinist. I believe his success has come from his ability to understand music accurately and his indefatigable pursuit of perfection."
It is this insatiable passion for perfection that drove Su across the Pacific Ocean from his hometown in the city of Quanzhou of East China's Fujian Province in 1987 to undertake his musical studies under the guidance of the renowned violin teachers Professor Alice Schoenfeld at the University of Southern California and Professor Deveny at the University of San Diego.
Before Su went abroad, his talent had already been well recognized. After graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Su became the concert master of the orchestra Fujian Song and Dance Ensemble (now the Fujian Symphony Orchestra).
However, Su has never been satisfied with his achievements.
He recalled that, when he first saw his other mentor Alice Schoenfeld, he told her of his desire to be a violinist with California's famous Pasadena Symphony Orchestra.
Schoenfeld thought at the time that Su was too conceited. Yet, Su managed to become first violin in the orchestra after several auditions.
The professor came to know Su's real ability and felt proud of being Su's mentor.
Past glory will never stop Su's pursuits. His tenacious pursuit of technical virtuosity has led him to concentrate on tone-producing technique for the violin. With the assistance of Igor Gruppman, the world-renowned Russian violin master, Su has gained new ground in his violin performance, with enhanced sound quality and technical subtleties.
His performance of "Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs)" by Pablo de Sarasate in particular achieved a crystal, arresting penetration, investing each note with distinctive transparency and brilliance.
(China Daily January 13, 2003)
