GIVING THE GIFT OF SONGS

The China NCPA Chorus, the resident chorus of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, will launch its first independent season since it was established on Dec 8, 2009.

On Monday, the yearlong schedule of the China NCPA Chorus was announced at the NCPA, under the theme of the "Voice of Harmony".

"In our diversity of artistic programs, such as choral concerts, operas, symphonic concerts, audiences can experience how wonderful and powerful choral works are. We are excited to showcase the progress and growth of the China NCPA Chorus with programs arranged throughout this year," said Zhang Yao, vice-president of the NCPA, in Beijing on Monday.

The concerts include Chinese music — folk songs, art songs and contemporary work — as well as choral arrangements of classic opera arias, and will be held at the three venues of the NCPA.

On Thursday, under the baton of conductor Lyu Jia, the China NCPA Chorus will perform the choral symphony, Beijing Cantata, composed by Meng Weidong and Tang Jianping, with lyrics by Zou Jingzhi.

Featuring five movements, the piece, commissioned by the NCPA in 2018, and which premiered in 2019, portrays the beauty of the ancient capital. Each of the five movements is named after an iconic landmark in the city, such as Tianqiao, the old entertainment area, Yongdingmen, the front gate of Beijing's old city wall, also known as the Gate of Perpetual Peace, and Tiantan, the Temple of Heaven.

"I have written for movies, TV dramas and operas. It was quite challenging to write the libretto for a symphonic choral piece. I tried to make it sound like a poem, an ode to the city where I have lived for about 70 years," says Zou.

The 72-year-old has previously collaborated with the NCPA on its opera productions, The Chinese Orphan and Xi Shi.

Soloists, including soprano Li Xintong, tenor Wang Chong, Peking Opera actor Wang Chao, and xihe dagu performer Zhao Ning, feature in the Beijing Cantata. Xihe dagu is a traditional art form combining storytelling and drum playing.

Zou Jingzhi has written the lyrics for another new piece, New Rhythm of Chinese Classical, with music by composer Zou Ye, which will be premiered by conductor Jiao Miao and the China NCPA Chorus on Dec 8 this year in the concert celebrating the 15th anniversary of the China NCPA Chorus.

According to Zou Jingzhi, the new choral piece is adapted from four ancient Chinese compositions: Three Stanzas of Plum Blossoms, Su Wu the Shepherd, A Parting Tune With a Thrice Repeated Refrain, and A Night of Flowers and Moonlight by the Spring River.

"I am really intrigued by the idea of turning ancient Chinese music into choral pieces, which will allow the audience to reimagine these great works in an easy and beautiful way," says Zou Jingzhi, adding that he hopes to create more choral pieces based on old Chinese music.

To bring old poems to life through choral singing, a concert will be staged at the NCPA on May 24 and 25 under the baton of conductor Meng Huan, in which the China NCPA Chorus will perform music adapted from poems, such as Written on a Rainy Night to My Wife in the North, by Li Shangyin, a poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), with music composed by Meng Weidong, and The Lantern Festival Night, by Southern Song era (1127-1279) poet Xin Qiji, with music composed by Li Yan.

The Journey Like a Song, a concert conducted by Zheng Jian and performed by the chorus, will be staged twice on Nov 9 and 10 to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Contemporary Chinese music will be performed, including A New World by composer Shu Nan with lyrics by Wen Yi, and Aspire, composed by Yin Qing with lyrics by Tian Di.

As this year sees the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations, two concerts will be held on July 6 and 7 with arias selected from classic operas by French composers. Under the baton of conductor Li Xincao, the China NCPA Chorus will sing Angel Adorable from Romeo et Juliette by Charles Gounod, and Sous le dome epais (Flower Duet) from Lakme by Leo Delibes.

"The sound of choral singing can be intensely beautiful. There is a great choral tradition in the country, from young people in the schools to senior people in the parks," says Lyu Jia, artistic director of the NCPA and chief conductor of the China NCPA Orchestra. "With choral singing, we can learn a wide range of pieces from different cultures. We also feel the joy of singing through choral music, which, like dancing, is the most basic way of enjoying art and expressing ourselves."

On May 15 and 16, Lyu will lead the China NCPA Chorus in a performance of classical Western choral works, such as Magnificent by Bach, Widmung by Schumann, and The Nightingale by Rachmaninoff.

When the China NCPA Chorus was founded, Wu Lingfen, a famous choral music conductor, was invited to train the young chorus and help it to grow. On Aug 6 and 7, the 78-year-old will return to the NCPA to conduct pieces such as the Russian folk song, Song of the Volga Boatman, Indonesian folk song, Hela Rotan, and Irish folk song, Danny Boy.

"During the past 15 years, the chorus has performed over 60 operas. With a large repertoire, it has learned to sing in different languages, and has a very hectic schedule," says Jiao, the resident conductor. "I joined the chorus right after I graduated from the China Conservatory of Music, where I studied with Wu. For me, it was like growing up with the chorus."

Lou Yihan joined in 2023 as part of the soprano section. She began to sing in the chorus when she was about 8 years old. As a student, she performed twice at the NCPA.

"In 2010, when I was 10 years old, I performed at the NCPA for the first time. The building impressed me and I dreamed about performing here again," recalls Lou. "In 2015, after performing at the NCPA for the second time, I decided to become a professional choral singer. Now, my dream has come true."

Besides concerts in Beijing, the China NCPA Chorus will also tour nationwide this year, following its first national tour last year.