From Beijing to Broadway: Wu Man and the Pipa’s Global Journey

In a world dominated by electric guitars and piano keys, Wu Man wields something different: a pear-shaped, four-stringed Chinese lute called the pipa (pípá 琵琶). On stage, her fingers don’t just play music—they tell stories, carrying echoes of ancient China to captivated audiences across the globe.

On November 10, Wu joined the Philadelphia Orchestra in Haikou, Hainan, for a stunning performance of "Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra No. 2," blending Chinese musical heritage with Western symphonic grandeur. This marked the finale of the orchestra's 2024 China tour, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the U.S. But this wasn’t just about music—it was a moment of cultural diplomacy.