To Vladimir Ashkenazy, who has passionately engaged in various aspects of music making over the years, conducting is a "mysterious profession."

"All I can communicate with the orchestra is through my heart and the visual communication via my movements, to show how to play," he said during a short break from rehearsal with China Philharmonic Orchestra for this coming Saturday's concert at the Poly Theatre in Beijing.

The concert program includes Edward Elgar's Serenade in E minor, Benjamin Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No 10 in E minor.

During rehearsal, he used words like "bravos" and "very nice" to express his satisfaction.

And he signaled for a halt whenever he wanted to do some fine-tuning.

For one particular bar he said, "I like it very much for you to look at these notes, because they are easy to play out of tune."

At another phrase, he asked the orchestra not to be afraid to "play it a little longer" to produce a "better sound."

At one point, he stressed that the music should be "so mean, so horrible," and at another, that it should be played slower, to make it very "melodic."

"I care about everything," he said, but added that he mainly emphasized "technical things and practical matters."

"Whatever, you do not play one single note," said the renowned pianist with a wry smile.

Ashkenazy's major releases have long remained among the best-selling classical music CDs. His critically-acclaimed complete Shostakovich Preludes & Fugues won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra).

Beyond his own skills, he said, "The rest depends on the orchestra members," and it is difficult to "put into words" the outcome, "to explain why it happens."

But what is certain is that the world-renowned pianist and conductor is winning increasing respect from Beijing classical music fans.

Last Saturday, Ashkenazy successfully commanded the China Philharmonic Orchestra, the country's leading symphonic orchestra, in its first concert after Spring Festival, according to Wang Jiyan, the orchestra's director of artistic administration.

Ashkenazy's precision and passion deeply impress concert-goers, according to a local music critic.

Push for progress

Yu Long, the China Philharmonic Orchestra's artistic director and principal conductor, has repeatedly stressed ever since the orchestra was founded four years ago that cooperation with world-renowned musicians is an important way to improve the orchestra.

"Even though February is not the best time to schedule concerts with the master, we have done so because he was available only during this two week window," Wang said.

The orchestra members have learned a lot from the master, Wang said.

"He has shared with us a lot of his own understanding about these classical works," said Chen Yun, the philharmonic's concert master and first violinist.

Ashkenazy said he was drawn to China this time because Yu Long has become a good friend and is "very active in classic music."

Ashkenazy was chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra from 1998 until last year and will become the NHK Symphony Orchestra's music director at the start of its 2004/2005 season.

"Yu talked a lot about leading it (the China Philharmonic) and making it as good as possible," said Ashkenazy. "I thought, in order to help it progress, I must be in the team."

Since he started working with them last week, Ashkenazy said he has found the orchestra members are "very involved" and "want to do well."

He said that China does not lack individual and gifted musicians. "Many Chinese musicians traveling abroad are very good, from pianists, violinists to conductors," he said.

But as far as "the general thing" is concerned, it will still take time for the orchestra to get on par with the world's leading orchestras.

Chen Yun pointed out the orchestra still needs to work harder to improve the harmony among the different sections.

It will require "the main things: devotion, hard work and financial support," Ashkenazy said.

"You cannot expect it to happen overnight," he said.

"But I hope I will be a small part in making it happen."

(China Daily February 5, 2004)