Classical music has remained a point of discussion for decades, and its role in our lives has shifted significantly throughout the last hundred years or so. 

Over the last few decades, classical music has seen a resurgence in China. But here in the United States, classical music, whether in its recorded form or performed live, is often seen as music for high society or the classroom, and not as diverse, compelling music to be accessed and enjoyed by the average listener.  

Musicians, composers, and commentators are working to change that negative perception, and fortunately, online music streaming has made a massive amount of classical music far more accessible to the average listener. 

As part of this much larger discussion of the significance of classical music, we thought it would be interesting to speak with a classical musician of the highest caliber, one who has been listening to and playing classical music since childhood, to learn about their perception of this vast music category. 

The musician we chose was Jiawei Cui, a lauded violinist who trained with another well-known violinist, Chai Liang, before embarking on his professional career. 

Cui's talents as a classical musician have been widely recognized, and his track record of performances spanning places like Beijing Concert hall, Bin Hai Culture Center, and Walt Disney Concert Hall is most impressive. 

While Cui doesn't exclusively play classical (he's also a session musician for film, television, and recording artists), he remains committed to classical music in many forms, and he was happy to describe the trajectory of this genre in his life and career, and he also spoke to how newcomers to classical can form their own connections to this wealth of musical expression. 

When you were first learning to play the violin, did you enjoy listening to classical music? Were your parents listening to classical music at home?

When I was growing up, my parents loved listening to classical music, operas, and musicals. So our house had shelves and shelves of CDs and DVDs. Music was always playing in our house, during dinner and while I did homework. It was a consistent presence. 

What were some of the earliest classical pieces you played when you were training?

When I was starting with the violin, we began with the most basic pieces from Bach, Hayden, and Mozart. 

Years later, do you have a single favorite composer? 

I would say that Bach is my favorite composer. I've continued to listen to his work and play his compositions. 

Are there composers whose work tends to be especially challenging for violinists?

For the violin, I would say that Stravinsky is the most challenging. His work isn't just hard technically but also musically. Because the work edges into the category of contemporary music, sometimes you can't find its form or pattern, and some things are written very awkwardly.

Do you see a strong relationship between classical composition and contemporary film scores?

Yes, I do. A lot of film scores derive from classical compositions. And I should also note that many 20th-century composers wrote film scores as well. So yes, there is a strong connection between the two, and that connection doesn't seem to be going away. 

How do you feel about classical music now? Is it part of your listening rotation?

Classical music is what I do. I'm constantly listening to classical music or watching other people perform so that I can learn from them and improve my own playing.

What are your feelings on the classical venues you've played in? Do you tend to notice acoustic differences or differences in the audiences?

It's a very special feeling to play in places like these. Acoustically, depending on the hall, the music can sound very grand. It's a powerful feeling when you stand on stage under the spotlight and you see that people have taken time out of their day to come see you and support you. It inspires me to work even harder.

That brings us to our very last question: is there any advice you can share on how someone can explore classical music, especially someone who isn't very familiar with classical periods and composers?

Exploring classical music is a slow and enjoyable process. It takes a lot of time to really dig deep into the music of every composer from different periods of music. Each period has something different and special to discover. 

I would recommend diving in and listening to pieces from different composers and taking note of which composers speak to you the most. Later on, you can learn about the different periods if you're interested.