Today is the 17th World Autism Awareness Day.

　　Autistic children are also known as "children from the stars". They rarely look at others actively, do not like to contact the outside world, and cannot even express themselves. They live alone in their own world, like stars in the sky. , shining alone in the night sky.

　　On March 31, "Love in Spring - Grandpa Cao Peng and His Children Symphony Concert" was played in Shanghai.

　　At the end of the concert, the 99-year-old famous Chinese conductor Cao Peng stepped onto the podium amidst a minute and a half of applause.

　　On his chest, there is still that bright red color. In the past ten years, every time he performed on stage or attended an important event, no matter how his dress changed, he only had this red color on his collar.

Conductor Cao Peng waves to the audience. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Hengwei

　　"This is the red scarf that the children put on me." For him, the red scarf represents the hearts of children and is the heart opened by music.

　　Most of the children who performed this concert were from the Shanghai Youth Symphony Orchestra, and some were autistic children from the "Angel Friend Salon". They all liked "Grandpa Cao".

Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Hengwei at the concert

　　Audiences who know Cao Peng know that in his concerts, there is always a link where he communicates with the audience during the performance. This time is no exception. Before playing the finale song "Tequila", Grandpa Cao addressed the audience to Telling about the knowledge of agave, "It is a plant in Cuba. It is not a tree or a flower. It can make wine and weave cloth..."

Conductor Cao Peng is conducting. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Hengwei

　　Grandpa Cao also made a "special" request, "Please everyone shout 'Tequlia' three times at the end, so that we can end this concert with a happy mood. I hope everyone can go back with a happy mood." Home."

　　As a conductor with profound attainments and exquisite artistry, Cao Peng has conducted many high-quality and unforgettable concerts. It not only introduces foreign musical works to Chinese audiences, but also allows Chinese symphonic music works to go abroad for the first time, allowing Chinese music to wander in foreign countries.

　　Cao Peng once said: "I think it is the responsibility of a Chinese conductor to let the world understand China through music."

　　In addition, he also actively participated in the work of popularizing elegant art at the grassroots level. He went to primary and secondary schools, factories, enterprises, communities, military camps, etc. regardless of remuneration, so that elegant art could reach the public and symphony could enter the hearts of the public. . "I have always believed that symphony is a reflection of the cultural quality of a country and a nation. To revitalize the symphony, we must first start with cultivating symphony audiences."

　　Since 1994, Cao Peng, who is nearly 70 years old, has concurrently served as the consultant and chief conductor of the Shanghai Middle School Student (Nanmo) Symphony Orchestra. Later, he co-founded China's first non-professional symphony orchestra "Shanghai City Symphony Orchestra" with his daughter Cao Xiaoxia. In addition, Cao Peng also participated in the founding and training of several amateur and student symphony orchestras, including the Shanghai Student Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai City Youth Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Symphony Orchestra, etc., and was appointed as the Honorary Dean of the Shanghai University Conservatory of Music.

Conductor Cao Peng was interviewed backstage. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Hengwei

　　In 2008, with the support of the Shanghai Charity Foundation, Cao Peng and his eldest daughter Cao Xiaoxia established the "Angel Friend Salon" for autistic children to open up the minds of autistic children through learning music and playing musical instruments. Many families benefited from Start feeling happy and hopeful again.

　　Cao Peng said, "We are trying to use the power of music to find this key. Which window should be opened for their spring? Although the road is long and difficult, we are already reaping changes."

Conductor Cao Peng is conducting. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Hengwei

　　With his persistence and hard work, the "Angel Friend Salon" has brought great changes to the children. When these children first entered the salon, it was difficult for them to follow basic instructions. When they were unhappy, they stamped their feet, cried, and even smashed things and banged their heads against the wall.

　　Now these children can not only follow instructions, but can also work with the band to bring everyone familiar world-famous songs.

Cao Peng's daughter Cao Xiaoxia teaches autistic teenagers to play musical instruments at the "Angel Friend Salon" event. Photo by Wan Xiaojun

　　Cao Peng also led his family to donate one million yuan to establish a special trust for autistic families to provide protection for parents of autistic families; he also actively promoted the Shanghai Jing'an Family Social Guardianship Service Center to provide advice to families with mental disabilities. Customized guardianship and guardianship supervision services are provided to relieve the difficulties of autistic parents. These initiatives are groundbreaking firsts in the country.

　　This has also impressed domestic and foreign experts. Experts from Harvard University, Yale University in the United States, Israel, Japan and other countries have come to Shanghai to participate in autism base activities.

Conductor Cao Peng Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Hengwei

　　In 2017, Cao Peng was hired by the China Children and Teenagers' Foundation as the "Lifelong Love Ambassador of the China Autistic Children Care Fund", and the "Angel Friend Salon" was identified as the experimental and practical education base for autistic children in China.

　　On May 10, 2021, the 96-year-old Cao Peng was awarded the "Special Honor Award" by the 37th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival. When he was asked backstage about his feelings about winning the award, he said that he hoped for a "Shanghai Spring" in the future. It can give autistic children a stage; two years later, he fulfilled this wish at the 38th "Shanghai Spring". This year, he took autistic children to the "Shanghai Spring" for the second time.

　　What is gratifying is that this time Grandpa Cao Peng's autistic child and the "Qingjiao" children were more "integrated" than before in the entire performance. Children from the two teams participated in almost every program. .

Conductor Cao Peng was interviewed by a reporter from China News Service. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Hengwei

　　The concert that day lasted for two hours. It was already evening after the end. A reporter from China News Service met Mr. Cao in a dressing room behind the stage.

　　In front of the huge makeup mirror, Mr. Cao was sitting quietly in his wheelchair meditating, holding a cane in his hand. There were several bouquets of flowers on the dressing table. He lamented to a reporter from China News Service: "These children are really extraordinary!" "Working with these children again at the age of 99 is very unforgettable in my life. I hope I can still be with them when I am 100 years old. Have a concert.”

Conductor Cao Peng was interviewed by a reporter from China News Service. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Hengwei

　　Mr. Cao continued: "We do not want them (referring to autistic children) to become musicians, but to open their hearts and help them integrate into society like ordinary people. This is my biggest wish."

　　Author: Wang Ji Li Qiuying