Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto

A heart wrenching story of a fomer famous orchestra conductor with the Shanghai Music Conservatory during the the period of Mao's communist China, who had not seen his only child for 30 years, she was one of the top solo violinist in the world; finally reunited with her in the most unusual and glorious fashion, an unexpected oppourtunity came, he seized it, took the leap with no chance of turning back and spectacularly found the redemption that was way overdue; all these happened in the face of the pumpkin face devil.

Early 1980, I served as a special agent with the Federal Police in Australia. I was assigned as a secret bodyguard to one of China's powerful man during his overseas trip in the Pacific as a precaution against possible assassination attempt by enemies. His personal medical doctor was friendly with me. He and his wife were from Shanghai and they shared with me many stories about the cultural revolution in which they were held in labour camp. One story that I had heard it when I was in China three years earlier captivated me very much. It was from their stories that inspired me to write the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concert novel.

A Novel by

Joey Chen

At a French Restaurant in Singapore.

Red wine is served.

They touch glasses and drink.

Meil Ling

To the concert.

Chen Chu Yu

To the concert

Mr. Chen.

Just call me Chu Yu please.

If you don’t mind.

Is it true that you were taken by the Chinese Red Guards and beaten up and thrown into prison? Please tell me more about it.

Well, your... (almost slip his tongue that his wife is Mei Ling’s mother)

It is a long story.

I mean, I ...

It happened in 1966, 30 years ago.

There were rumors circulating in Beijing that Li Shaoqi was planning a Coup d'état against Mao Tse Tung. Just rumors. Mao took it seriously and quickly assigned his wife Chiang Ch’ing and army chief Lin Piao to stage a counter coup. Some said Mao’s wife Chiang Ch’ing cooked up the story to get rid of Li Shaoqi and his powerful associates who were too close to Mao. Chiang Ch’ing engineered the cultural revolution with the helps of several members of her own gang, known as the “gang of four”. Mao authorized the arrest of Li Shaoqi who was put into detention camp where he died. Musicians, actors and those in performing arts were supportive of Li Shaoqi were quickly rounded up. I was in Beijing at that time, and I was in the middle of the Butterfly Concert violin rehearsal and the Red Guards walked in and stopped everything. They chased the audiences out and had me detained. I was asked to criticize myself which I refused and that was when they, the Red Guards sent me to the re-education camp. I was in there for more than 10 years. My musicians went to Voice of America and petitioned for my release. Instead, they also captured my wife who was in Shanghai at that time. They threw her into the labour camp where she died just after one year. I had never get to visit her at all. I didn’t even know that she had died in there let alone be arrested for her love for music.

And then?

I was told that she played Butterfly Lovers on an imaginary violin everyday hoping that one day I would be able to see her play.

Her fingers were very fast; faster than any violinist I’ve ever come across. And the reason why she was so fast was because I often criticized her for not being fast enough for Butterfly Lovers.

She has to be very fast with her fingers in order to reach the perfect harmony with the rest of the music. Not easy but can be achieved.

How?

I learned it from her.

Concentration. Concentrate on the music, not the fingers.

When you read the music notes and know it by heart,

Your fingers will naturally follow.

It is all sublimal. Heart first, then the mind, then the body

which is the fingers.

You follow?

I think so.

Cut To

MacDonald Restaurant, Singapore

Yes, Butterfly Lovers.

So beautiful.

China’s most beautiful violin concerto.

I dream of it every night...

Listen to me like an older brother.

You cannot mix emotions and professionalism!

You must separate them.

Music without emotion is like dead wood.

You should know that better than me?

Imagine if she were not your daughter.

You mean if she were not Mei Ling?

What’s the different?

My daughter is my daughter.

I cannot change it.

Mei Ling is the solo violinist, the best in the world.

I can’t change her either.

No one plays the violin better than her.

You should know that.

Yes, I know that but...

Would you rather have a second best solo violinist to play Butterfly Lovers and let the whole world to laugh at us, so-called stupid Chinese musicians from Red China?

Of course not but...

Since the cultural revolution in 1966 up to now, 30 years, China has

not produced any single piece of music worthy in the eyes of the world. The world is waiting, patiently.

But not forever.

Now is our chance to show to the world that China can produce a single piece of music worthy of praise. Butterfly Lovers is our chance. Only chance. You hear that! One shot. That’s all we have. Mao cannot steal it from me! That’s why I choose Singapore and Mei Ling happens to be here and she fits in that cut. She resembles so much like her mother. I only need one rehearsal with her. That’s all I need.

I understand. Yes, I understand you Maestro.

You’re absolutely right!

You’re always the best.

You have my deepest respect.

But, I’m afraid we won’t be able to do it.

Do what?

Be more specific.

We haven’t play together Butterfly Lovers for 30 years infront of so many people.

And Mei Ling is a superstar.

Yes. That’s true.

In front of people. Doesn't border me at all. I'm used to audiences.

Ai Ling played it everyday when she was in labour camp until she died. She just wanted to show her true love for me like Zhu Ying Tai. I appreciate her true love for me.

Myself, I play Butterfly Lovers everyday and night, in my mind, in my heart, in my soul. Every piece of note has our hearts and souls in it. First, we put our effort on it. Then we put our life into it.

Butterfly Lovers never leave us. We don’t leave it either. It stays with us forever. Just Like Liang Shan Po and Zhu Ying Tai. Please remember that.

As for Mei Ling, she would be just like her mother.

It is in her blood.

I can't wait for the concert to happen.