The year 2024 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the NCPA Chorus. On January 29, the National Centre for the Performing Arts Chorus announced the 2024 ** season in Beijing, which is also the first choral season of the choir since its establishment, and it is also a rare ** season launched by a professional choir in the country.
'The Voice of Harmony' is our first independent season, and the most prominent features of the overall performance arrangement are diverse, integrated and splendid. Jiao Miao, the resident conductor of the National Centre for the Performing Arts Chorus, said that the first season will comprehensively, in detail and completely, show the wonderful performances of the National Centre for the Performing Arts Chorus throughout the year, such as conferences, operas, symphonic choruses and other forms, and bring a rich and colorful feast to the audience. "We focus on theme planning, form innovation and repertoire creation, especially in the ** section, we plan and launch four series of themes according to the type and style of the work, including the national rhyme dream, and the music of the same glow, the four seas of music and the new sound, respectively, corresponding to China, opera excerpts, world art songs and modern works, I believe the audience can feel that the theme is more distinct, the style is more diverse, and the content is richer in the season. Jiao Miao said.
Jiao Miao. The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. In the "Dream of National Rhyme" series, the choir will invite conductor Zheng Jian to collaborate on "The Journey is Like a Song" - a special meeting to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the speech of the Literary and Art Symposium, and present the audience with the main theme works full of the strong voice of the times. At the same time, under the leadership of Jiao Miao, the conductor of the regiment, and Meng Huan, folk songs, art songs, and modern works from China will also appear.
2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and the choir will invite conductor Li Xincao to co-collaborate on the "Excerpts from French Classic Operas**", presenting classic excerpts from French operas produced and performed since the establishment of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, including "Carmen", "The Pearl Diver", "Lakmé" and "Romeo and Juliet", so that everyone can enjoy the essence of French opera.
In the series of music from all over the world, Lu Jia, the artistic director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, will lead everyone to experience the most classic choral masterpieces from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical to Romantic, and the classic works of Monteverdi, Mozart, Brahms and other composers will be presented one by one. Wu Lingfen, the conductor of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, will also continue to excavate and polish the distinctive folk songs of various countries around the world in the "Window of the World". It is worth looking forward to the fact that this season will also launch 4 glittering - male chorus ** sessions, which include both classic male chorus repertoire and new adapted songs, bringing a unique audio-visual enjoyment to the audience.
Lu Jia. In this series, the popular love theme of "The Love of My Life"** and "Children's Dreams" Children's Day** will be further polished and will meet the audience again this season. At the same time, original works that innovate and integrate and break the boundaries will also be presented, showing more possibilities of choral art.
In this season, Zou Jingzhi and composer Zou Ye will jointly compose a choral suite based on the traditional Chinese songs "Su Wu Shepherd", "Yangguan Three Stacks", "Three Alleys of Plum Blossoms" and "Spring River Flower Moonlight Night". This group of repertoire will give new vitality to traditional classic works, and use richer and more diverse creative techniques to present them three-dimensionally and vividly through the expression of choral chorus. Zou Jingzhi said, "I hope that through cooperation, we can create a classic masterpiece that promotes Chinese culture with the spirit of the new era, rooted in traditional Chinese culture, promotes national cultural self-confidence, and tells Chinese stories with heart, strength and affection." ”
Zou Jingzhi. Chorus is an art that pursues harmony and cooperation, which integrates the voices of nearly 100 people and interprets different works with the same voice. Therefore, in the chorus, we hear not only the harmonious resonance between people and voices, but also the integration and collision between different cultures behind the chorus. Zhang Yao, Vice President of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, said, "Over the past 15 years, the NCPA Chorus has always been based on the art of choral singing, and has always presented the beautiful singing voices originating from all over the world on the stage with full enthusiasm, research attitude and unremitting spirit of innovation, bringing a wonderful, pure and unforgettable artistic experience to the audience, and interpreting the charm of choral singing and the beauty of art with heart. What they strive for is the harmony of sounds, the harmony of hearts and minds, and the resonance of culture. The NCPA Chorus kicked off its first independent season with 'The Voice of Harmony', which is a reflection on the origin of choral art, a concise summary of 15 years of accumulation, and a firm declaration to continue to move forward. ”
Text: Beijing Youth Daily reporter Tian Wanting.
Photo by Beijing Youth Daily reporter Li Na.