Tonight David Stern will take the baton of English Chamber Orchestra to premiere in the Chinese mainland at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

Eminent violinist Sarah Chang will join him in the performance.

The program includes such important works as Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Dvorak's Romance in F minor, Op 11.

As the Principal Guest Conductor of the Opera de Rouen in Germany, Stern disclosed that one of his most recent productions related to China was an oratorio written by German composer Carsten Gundemann for Western instruments and traditional Chinese instruments.

Gundemann is a composer who has spent a great deal of time in China and speaks Chinese fluently.

The love for traditional Peking Opera led him to compose this "crossover" work which allows Stern for the first time to work with Chinese musicians playing erhu fiddle, 21-stringed guzheng, flute and three-stringed sanxian.

The work's premiere in Berlin earlier this year was such a success that the orchestra repeated two movements for the public. Although the work won't be included in tonight's show, Stern says he plans to tour China with this piece in coming seasons.

Sarah Chang, born in Philadelphia to Korean parents, will make her first trip to China for the concert. She is working on an album featuring Asian-style music.

The young violin soloist has collaborated with Yo-yo Ma and Chinese conductor Yu Long in several performances.

"Chinese musicians are very talented and each enjoys a unique style," Chang said.

The visit to Shanghai means more than a concert for David Stern, whose father is world-known violinist Isaac Stern. His name has become a symbol of the friendship between Chinese and American musicians, since he participated in a documentary From Mao to Mozart made around 1980.

Stern said he visited China accompanying his father in 1979 for the documentary. However, he has not been back to Shanghai since and he knows that he can expect very different scenery.

When referring to his father's impact on his life, Stern said his father gave him the firm belief that every working musician has the responsibility to nurture young talent.

Stern added: "My father felt that competitions were not the best method for starting a career, because the idea of competing against another artist does not contribute towards finding one's artistic voice. He would take time over the years to listen to many instrumentalists, and for those whom he felt had enough talent, he would help them progress."

Wang Jian, one of the young musicians who appeared in the documentary, eventually went to the United States to further his studies.

"He (Wang Jian) and I to this day are great friends. We have performed together a number of times in Europe and even in Brazil."

Stern's collaborations in Hong Kong with opera director Lo Kingman have developed into a close partnership and Stern said he looks forward to working with him in the future.

Stern said Lo is dedicated to finding a mix of established singers from Europe and the US and combining them with Chinese singers, either professionals who live abroad or young talents that are just beginning their careers.

Stern has conducted the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Central Philharmonic and the Guangzhou Symphony.

Moreover, there are plans for Stern to appear next season with the China Philharmonic.

"It is always a pleasure to make music with another orchestra in China, " he said.

(China Daily December 5, 2003)