Rebooting the Grand Tour for the Asian Art Centennial

Qian Yi performs in the Astor Chinese Garden Court during the Grand Tour: Asia on December 4. All photographs by Kelley McGuire

«For the past two seasons, the Grand Tour performances have been a two-evening event featuring spectacular concerts in the European Paintings galleries. Not only did the music simply match the galleries' art (as well as countries and time periods), the performances completely complemented and elevated the works to a point of engaging and incorporating them into the program. Again and again, audiences commented on the experience of seeing the art anew—that it actually appeared as if the subject of a painting was listening in. The after-hours Grand Tour concerts were refined, intimate, and beloved. Although the series could have returned again this season, resuming its same format, the opportunity for reinvention was so much more appealing.»

This season, the Grand Tour has moved from the European Paintings galleries to the Florence and Herbert Irving Asian Wing in celebration of the Met's Asian Art Centennial 2015. Exploring the vast and mesmerizing collection of Asian art at the Met, The Grand Tour: Asia endeavors to connect the exquisite collection with classical and contemporary music from Asia.

Qian Yi performs in the Astor Chinese Garden Court during the Grand Tour: Asia on December 4

Artists from various disciplines were invited to perform in several galleries throughout the wing to encourage Museum visitors to experience the music, art, and space in unexpected ways. These free performances have taken place during Museum hours on Friday evenings, so the drama of finding a performance nestled in an intimate gallery has reinvigorated the Grand Tour series with a palpable energy. Over the past three Fridays, it has not been uncommon to walk into the performance space and see visitors seated on the floor or perched wherever there is room, completely absorbed by the music.

The series began on November 20 with renowned toy instrumentalist Margaret Leng Tan in the Astor Chinese Garden Court, and Indian dancer and storyteller Rajika Puri in the Indian medieval sculpture gallery. Many audiences found themselves captivated by the performance, remaining for the full set as the music resonated throughout neighboring galleries. The following Friday, November 27, pansori singer Moon Oak Joo performed in the Arts of Korea gallery, and Kaoru Watanabe, a shinobue and nohkan musician, enchanted audiences in gallery 227.

Just last week, the exquisite Kunqu opera star Qian Yi captivated the Astor Court with her evening-length performance, and Ralph Samuelson, performing on shakuhachi, occupied an otherwise quiet corner of gallery 227.

The final performance of the Grand Tour: Asia will take place this evening, December 11, with a vibrant and meditative performance by Gamelan Dharma Swara, a leading Balinese gamelan and dance ensemble, in the Astor Court. The contemplative and moving quality of this traditional Balinese music is an exciting conclusion to a four-week exploration of Asian art and performance.

Ralph Samuelson performs in gallery 227 during the Grand Tour: Asia on December 4

The Grand Tour: Asia (Gamelan Dharma Swara) on Friday, December 11, from 6:00 to 8:15 p.m., is free with Museum admission. The performance is continuous with occasional pauses.