Looking to the future

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra brought everyone at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall to a standing ovation Tuesday night that lasted minutes and marked the end of the Ancient Paths, Modern Voices: A Celebration of Chinese Culture.

But the six-week festival, which began as a partnership between New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and was made possible by Henry Segerstrom, will not be the last.

In a sit-down interview with Clive Gillinson, the executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, and Henry and Elizabeth Segerstrom, Gillinson revealed that he, the Segerstroms and the philharmonic society are working on plans to bring back the festival next year under a different theme.

“Our conversation led up to extending the festival to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the conclusion has proven to be far more successful than any of us dreamed of,” Henry Segerstrom said.

This year’s festival showcased traditional and contemporary Chinese culture and heritage in every genre, including photography, music, theater, film and even sports. Many of the leading lights from China’s modern and traditional music and performing arts performed at the festival.

Although he said it’s too early to give specifics on what type of event will be held next year, Gillinson said that the partnership between Carnegie Hall and the philharmonic society is a lasting one.

Elizabeth Segerstrom said the partnership will last a lifetime.

Throughout its 119 years of contribution to art, Carnegie Hall never partnered with an outside organization to put on a festival, until both Gillinson and Henry Segerstrom met through a mutual friend.

It was then that Gillinson and Henry Segerstrom, managing partner of C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, whose family owns South Coast Plaza and who donated the land on which the Orange County Performing Arts Center was built, discovered a mutual philosophy on art.

“That art can lighten up every part of life, that it should be at the center of life and it should help bring people together, cultures together and it should create a great understanding between people, Gillinson said.

For an event like Ancient Paths, Modern Voices to come together, Gillinson said one needs two things: a shared vision and the capacity to present to the highest level.

On Tuesday, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Asia’s oldest orchestra, ended the festival with two performances that honored China and Mexico.

Pianist Yuja Wang mesmerized the audience with her riveting performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Chen Qigang’s scenic cantata Iris devoilee. The concert also featured Mussorgsky’s introduction from Khovantchina. Conductor Long Yu led the orchestra.

And the Chinese community’s support added to the success of the festival, Henry Segerstrom said.

“When all was put together, they were quite impressed,” he said.

Dean Corey, president and executive director of the philharmonic society, echoed Henry Segerstrom on the Chinese community’s reaction. He added that without their presence and their support, the festival could not have come together.

Tuesday’s event brought Chinese dignitaries, including Zhang Yun, China’s consul general, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the Chinese people. He said Ancient Paths, Modern Voices brought the American and Chinese cultures closer. The Segerstroms, Gillinson and Corey also attended.

Art admirers can expect a festival on the same scale, if not bigger next year, the Segerstroms, Gillinson and Corey said. Future festivals will not always celebrate a country’s heritage, but it could be a celebration of a time period, among many other ways to celebrate life through art, Gillinson said.