Musicians Behind the Scenes: Violist Meng Wang
December 31, 2025
Where were you born? I was born in Shenyang, China.
What piece of music could you play over and over again? Johann Sebastian Bach's cello suites and Chaconne for solo violin. The more I play them, the more they teach me about time, structure, and humanity.
What is your most treasured possession? My viola. It’s been with me through so many chapters of my life, both on stage and off.
What’s your favorite food? Chinese food. I’m very mood-driven when it comes to food but I always gravitate toward simple, comforting dishes that feel like home.
Tell us about your instrument. My viola was made by Jean Baptiste Vuillaume. I love the warm, noble sound it produces. I feel very lucky to play it.
What’s in your instrument case? I like to keep it simple and clean! Aside from the essentials, I have a picture of my family and a postcard from a childhood friend.
If you could ask one composer one question, what would it be? I would ask Johann Sebastian Bach if he could compose more works for the viola.
What piece of music never fails to move you? George Frideric Handel’s “Lascia la spina,” one of the most beautiful melodies from his famous oratorio The Triumph of Time and Disillusion [later recast as “Lascia ch’io pianga” from the opera Rinaldo]. The purity of the melody combined with melancholic pauses never fails to move me.
When did you join the Orchestra? In January 2017.
Do you play any other instruments? Like many violists, I started on the violin, which I still enjoy playing from time to time.
What’s your favorite Philadelphia restaurant? It depends on what I’m feeling at the moment! I enjoy a bowl of chicken pho at Pho Ga Thanh Thanh in the winter, a good breakfast egg and brie sandwich at Café Lutécia, or taking my kids to Pizzeria Vetri for a quick dinner.
What are you reading right now? I’ve been enjoying reading with my kids a lot. At the moment we are reading Charlotte’s Web. I’m also reading a book recommended by a friend, Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Whenever I can align our family’s schedule (which is very rare), I enjoy traveling and spending quality time with friends and family.
What is your favorite memory with the Orchestra? One of the most memorable concerts was playing Puccini’s La bohème with Yannick and singers from the Met Opera. It was so moving—the way the Orchestra and the voices intertwined was unforgettable.
What advice would you give to aspiring young musicians? Be patient with yourself. Stay curious, listen widely, and remember that your uniqueness is your greatest asset—not how fast or loud you can play, but how honestly you can speak through your instrument.
Do you speak any other languages? Mandarin.
What’s on your Spotify playlist? Cecilia Bartoli Live in Italy with Jean-Yves Thibaudet, mixed in with Bach, Mahler, and whatever my kids are currently obsessed with.
What’s the first album you ever bought or downloaded? The first album I ever bought for myself was Nathan Milstein playing Bach sonatas and partitas.
When was the first time you heard The Philadelphia Orchestra? One of the earliest concerts I remember attending as a student at Curtis was Sawallisch conducting Strauss’s Don Juan—it was so powerful and memorable!
What do you love most about Philadelphia? I love the city for its history and the rich cultural life.
Other than Marian Anderson Hall, where is your favorite place to perform? Any intimate space where I can feel the audience very close—chamber venues and community spaces where the barrier between stage and seats almost disappears.
Photo by Jessica Griffin