Violinist Jue Yao
Born in Shanghai, Jue Yao started playing the violin at the age of four. Today, she has established herself as one of the world’s most famed and talented violinists of our times. She talks to Grace Tsoi about her passion for music and her most cherished possession—a 1713 Stradivarius.
One of my uncles was a violinist. When I watched him play, he looked so cool. I told my father I wanted to learn how to play a violin.
My father was a conductor and he was very strict. If I didn’t practice, I had to kneel on a washing board for half an hour.
Seriously, who would like to practice violin at the age of four? I would get into all kinds of mischief to get out of practice.
At that time, strings were very expensive. I thought, how could I practice if the strings broke?
I cut the strings. My father was happy because he thought that the strings broke because I practiced so hard. He would rush out to buy new strings for me.
I only truly fell in love with violin when I was studying in the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
The school had a huge impact on me because it trained me to be disciplined and focused.
It was a military life. Every morning, we woke up at 6am. We practiced music six hours a day.
Musicians have to be very disciplined. If you aren’t disciplined, you will not get anywhere. As instrumentalists, we need techniques to express our feelings.
In 1982, I was awarded a full scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
My first impression of San Francisco was that the houses were in so many different colors. Just by looking at the city itself, you could tell that there were so many differences between China and the United States.
In the United States, my eyes were opened. It freed my music and gave it a soul.
I started to think for myself. Before I came to the US, I was just a follower because the school would arrange everything for you in Shanghai.
In my last year at Juilliard, I held my debut recital. I was worried that there would be no audience and I could not perform well.
The recital was well-received. It was the beginning of my career and since then I have done a lot of performances.
Once, I flew to Cuba and played violin for Fidel Castro.
Actually it was his size that impressed me because he was so tall! He was in a military suit and he struck me as a very strong leader.
Castro was humorous. He laughed loudly and had a lot of body movements. He defied my stereotypes of leaders because I thought leaders were all very serious and reserved.
Apart from classical concerts, I also work with pop stars. In 2006, I collaborated with Joey Yung to put on a concert.
Music should have no boundaries. “I only play classical music because I am a classical musician.” A musician should not say that.
When we play music, we have to attract people to listen and feel the music. The more people can be touched by you, then the more successful you are. One should not be so selfish about music.
I feel that it’s destiny that I now own the “Lady Ley”—the 1713 Stradivarius.
A friend of a friend—who is a Japanese violin collector—visited Hong Kong and brought four violins over.
I was doing a China tour and I asked him whether I could borrow his violin. He said yes because the violin never sounded so good in somebody’s hands.
After the tour, I spent ten months persuading and negotiating with him. I bought it in the end.
I met my husband through a common friend at a dinner.
I didn’t know that he is the son of Lu Ping [former Director of China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office]. I don’t know anything about politics—nor do I have any interest in it.
I am proud to be his daughter-in-law. Why not? He has a lot of big achievements.
I have two daughters. They are 12 and 7 years old now. It’s not a must for them to become violinists.
But the girls have shown talents in arts. I guess it’s in their genes.
Enjoy Jue Yao’s music in her upcoming concert, “All About Love—Jue Yao’s Tribute to the Silver Screen’s Love & Passion.” Tickets are now available for sale at $680, $380 and $150.
