Tan Dun, how much Eastern philosophy is in Beethoven’s music?

Tan Dun is known not least for his film scores for major cinema hits such as »Hero« and »Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon« (for the latter he even received an Oscar), but his influence on contemporary classical music should not be underestimated either! He combines traditional Asian music with Western classical music in an innovative way. His compositions are characterised by the use of unconventional instruments, such as water and stone, and often reflect themes such as culture, identity and spirituality. In conversation with artistic director Steven Walter, he talks about his first contact with Beethoven during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, as well as his formative time in New York City in the 1980s, where he socialised with artists such as Andy Warhol.