What does the erhu symbolize personally for you?

It is my support in life. It is my work, the center of my career. It is my one and only means of breadwinning, for me and my family.

What is your approach towards interpretation?

My approach? It is very intuitive and natural. I also make a point to improvise wherever I feel that there is an opportunity to do so.

What kind of repertoire and sonority attract you most?

After almost ten years of actively performing in Europe, China and elsewhere, I pretty much have dabbled in all sorts of music, be it jazz, contemporary, new age or classical. As a performer, I am open to all kinds of music. What appeals most to me is completely new music, original compositions by composers of our age.

During a rehearsal with the National Orchestra of France
(conducted by Yvan Casar) in July 2010
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

How do you practice?

Frankly, I have not much time to practice on my own, virtually none. Life has changed a great deal since marriage and the arrival of my baby daughter. I no longer have much personal time. Besides, as I mentioned earlier, I am now trying to spend more time on composing music.

When it comes to difficult pieces with performance techniques that I am not used to employing, I would make an effort to practice intensively on them, in segments, one or two days prior to rehearsals or performances. If they are pieces that I am familiar with, I prefer to revise them directly during rehearsals with others. I am quick at sightreading.

As far as concertos, orchestral or duo work, as you know, rehearsals last from one to two months.

What are some of the qualities of great folk musicians?

To be honest, I don’t like the label “folk musician.” Sometimes, I am amused by how certain musicians in China go by the description “the greatest folk musician” or the “greatest folk music performer.” I don’t quite like the term “musician,” either. I like the word “artist.” It is all-encompassing. I would like to be an artist, and say that I am an artist. By that, I mean that I use art to live and lead a life. In my case, it is the expression of erhu.

Any “ambition”?

I am a man with a humble virtue — that is, I don’t think of the future, or make big plans for the future. I like to live day by day, work hard at perfecting what I need to do today, and making today a good day. If I can keep more time to myself, I would very much like to spend it with my wife and daughter. They are my priority now.

— TRANSLATED AND TRANSCRIBED FROM AN INTERVIEW IN CHINESE AND FRENCH
CONDUCTED IN PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 2010)