Canadian Brass

The Canadian Brass, called ‘the world’s most famous brass group’ by the Washington Post, added a new chapter to their storied history with their latest tour to China.  Invited to attend the Chinese Spring Festival Gala to help celebrate the coming Chinese New Year, the Brass performed on Hunan-TV Network to an estimated audience of half billion viewers (500,000,000) on January 27th.  Along with their performance, the Brass was introduced and interviewed by Yang Lan, China’s most popular television hostess. Her fame and stature is immense in China.  Of note, she was a 2008 Beijing Olympic torchbearer as well as host at the Closing Ceremonies among her many honors and accolades.  Chuck Daellenbach, founder and tuba maestro of Canadian Brass gushed “it was a great success! Just when you think you’ve done it all, Canadian Brass, plays live to half a billion people on China’s most viewed TV network on the largest TV show of the year. Simply amazing!” The Chinese Spring Festival Gala on Hunan TV Network garners the highest audience rating of the year in China and certainly the largest audience to ever see the Canadian Brass perform.  The Hunan TV Network is located in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan – a province of south-central China on the lower reaches of Xiang River, a branch of the Yangtze River.

The Canadian Brass and China have a relationship that is far reaching. The Brass was the first western classical music group to perform in China, as part of a cultural exchange program between Canada and China in 1970. The Canadian Brass was selected by the Canadian government as cultural ambassadors, helping to open the door between the two nations.  Coming full circle, one of their first stops back then was to Changsha Province and Hunan TV Network. They were recently asked to come back in August 2010 as part of an education outreach and small tour.   After the Brass created a media stir and received rave reviews, they were invited to participate in the Chinese New Year celebration in 2011.