The aim of the annual gala in the Year of the Snake was to illustrate how music transcends borders and barriers.

The audience and musicians at the Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, a beautiful wood-paneled space, were a reflection of this, as they were from both Eastern and Western cultures.

Chen added: "The US-China relationship is very important, one of the most important in the world. Now, because the world is very complex, I think that music bridges the two cultures. Those bridges are more important than ever. It is a very soft bridge."

Star violinist Inmo Yang, who was made his debut as a soloist with the New York Phil, was clear on the power of music to bring cultures closer together.