Horn Player Reflects on China's Rise in Brass Presence

Ahead of a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in Shenyang under American-Chinese conductor Yongyan Hu, French horn player Li Yule, who performs with the joint "Musical Northeast Super League" orchestra formed by the Jilin, Liaoning and Harbin Symphony Orchestras, shares her journey from choosing the horn as a child to becoming an orchestral musician. She discusses the physical challenges faced by female horn players, the pride of returning to perform in her hometown, and the significance of collaborating in one of the orchestral repertoire's most demanding works. Reflecting on the rapid development of brass education in China, Li credits advances in pedagogy, international exchange and scientific understanding of performance, while emphasising that artistic passion remains the foundation of lasting musical achievement.This is a Chinese language programme with bilingual subtitles.Interviewed in Shenyang on July 24, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit klassikom.substack.com