Hong Kong-born Trey Lee is one of the most celebrated cellists in the world, having performed at famous venues such as Carnegie Hall and collaborated with esteemed conductors, composers and orchestras worldwide, from Maestro Lorin Maazel and composer Tan Sun to the Netherlands Philharmonic and the Munich Chamber Orchestra. He recently performed for an audience at the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2012 Gala Dinner, and met up with Reggie Ho to talk about life on the road.
YOU TRAVEL A LOT FOR PERFORMANCES – HOW DO YOU TRANSPORT YOUR CELLO?
My cello, which is named the Comte de Gabriac by Matteo Goffriller of Venice, always has to sit next to me on the airplane since it is over 300 years old – not exactly something you would just check in under the plane.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN AIRLINE?
A good movie selection would be great since long flights are pretty much the only chance I have to catch up on my movies. And of course, the food! I was recently on a Middle Eastern carrier that served only cold sandwiches in business class as the main meal during an eight-hour flight. That was truly ghetto... and you can be sure I will not be flying with them again!
HOW ABOUT HOTELS?
These days, I really need a hotel with a large indoor swimming pool. Swimming is great because not only does it help keep me in shape and my back from getting stiff after practising or performing, but it also helps with jet lag. Another big plus would be a hotel that serves breakfast until very late in the morning, since I work in the evenings and won’t be up early most days.
HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO PRACTISE ON THE ROAD?
One place I have discovered for practising is the airline lounge! Sometimes if the lounge is spacious and labyrinthine, the staff might be able to find a corner in which I can practise. I hate to admit this for fear of generating any new regulations, but occasionally the shower rooms are big enough that I can also practise in there. Why not? It’s not as if the other showering passengers would be bothered by a bit of music.
OTHER THAN PLAYING CELLO, WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITIES?
I am addicted to the internet, especially the news. I think it’s really important to get as many different perspectives as you can on the news, so I try to read articles from the US, Germany, China and so on. When I’m home in Berlin, I try to make it to the museums as often as I can. Museums have this cocoon-like aura that I find refreshingly soothing. Finally, I must always come back to food. The power of food always conjures up the ending to Babette’s Feast: the quarrelling townsfolk reconcile genially after the most decadent meal imaginable.
