The 212-year-old Opera House in Italy recently ushered in the final concert of the 2024-2025 spring performance season - Liao Changyong, president of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, baritone singer and vocal educator, joined hands with the world vocal cooperative piano artist Hartmut Hall to bring "Chinese Spring: Liao Changyong and Hartmut Hall Chinese Art Song Concert".

  The Como Opera House is one of the oldest and most influential opera houses in northern Italy, also known as the "Little Scala Opera House". This carefully planned performance transforms 16 Chinese art songs into a flowing oriental scroll. Liao Changyong's mellow baritone and Hall's piano blend, presenting the audience with a musical dialogue that transcends Chinese and Western civilizations.

  As a shining pearl in classical music, artistic songs have a history of nearly a thousand years in Europe. In 2021, "Three Wishes of the Rose: 16 Chinese Art Songs", jointly edited by Liao Changyong and Hartmut Hall, was published by the world's oldest music publisher, the German Big Bear Publishing House. It is the first time that an artistic song composed of ancient Chinese poems and lyrics has been published abroad in three languages: Chinese, German and English. The two performed these 16 Chinese art songs together at the Como Opera House.

  From passionate high-pitchedness, beginning and end to tender and melodious low moans, the charm and essence of Chinese art songs are heart-warming. After each song was sung, there was warm applause in the Como Opera House. As the end was approaching, in response to the enthusiastic response from the audience, Liao Changyong returned to sing Huang Zi's "Homesickness" and Donetsti's "I Want to Build a Palace", writing a perfect footnote to this musical dialogue with exquisite cultural mutual learning.

  "It is better to sing a cappella than a thousand words." Liao Changyong said, "Although foreign audiences may not be able to understand Chinese, they can be moved by the unique charm and deep emotions of Chinese art songs. The performance of musicians on the stage is a process of communicating with the audience. Singing with deep affection will bring sincere feedback from the audience. The truth, goodness and beauty conveyed by such music can always pass through time and space, cross mountains and seas, and arouse people's spiritual resonance."

  Hartmut Hall said: "In recent years, through the international promotion of Chinese art songs, European audiences have gained an understanding of the past and present of Chinese music art, and are deeply shocked and resonated with the common sorrows and joys of mankind told in the beautiful language of China. This is the role and significance of music, a bridge of human culture and spirituality."

  In addition to the concert that night, Liao Changyong also visited the campus of the "Galalat Puccini Conservatory of Music" in Italy, which is well-known in the international music industry, and through master classes, lectures and other activities, he exchanged face-to-face music and spreads the insights of Chinese culture with local students and audiences. (Reporter Zhu Yuan)

[Editor in charge: Susan]