China News Agency, New York, January 30th: How does Tang poetry collide with Western art such as opera?
——Interview with famous singer Tian Haojiang, artistic director of "Echoes of Tang Poetry" concert
China News Agency reporter Wang Fan Liao Pan
At the beginning of 2023, an "Echoes of Tang Poetry" concert will be staged in Philadelphia and New York, USA. 15 singers from 10 countries will join hands with the Philadelphia Orchestra to perform Chinese works based on the poems of famous poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, and Bai Juyi. His musical works have received extensive attention from the American and Chinese media.
How does Tang poetry collide with Western arts such as opera and symphony?
Recently, Tian Haojiang, the artistic director of the "Echoes of Tang Poetry" concert and a famous singer, accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency's "Dongxiwen", telling the story behind the concert from the collection of works to the formation of the performance, as well as his understanding of art fusion and cultural exchange .
Tian Haojiang is the first Chinese singer who has signed a contract with the Metropolitan Opera House in New York for 20 years. He has participated in more than 1,400 operas in more than 40 world-class opera houses, and has worked with Pavarotti, Domingo, etc. He has collaborated many times and won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Denver and an honorary doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music.
Tian Haojiang believes that singing has a kind of power, which can subtly play a role in communication.
Different cultures should strengthen exchanges and integration, so that the world will be more hopeful.
The interview transcript is summarized as follows:
Reporter from China News Agency: Why is the Tang poetry concert so popular in the United States beyond imagination?
Tian Haojiang:
This Tang poetry concert is performed by the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra. It is not an isolated performing art form, but a comprehensive one.
Bringing together the literary power of Chinese Tang poetry, modern music and singers from various countries, this comprehensiveness presents its uniqueness.
On the evening of January 7, 2023, the 2023 "Happy Chinese New Year" "Echoes of Tang Poetry: iSING! Suzhou and the Philadelphia Orchestra Chinese New Year Concert" was staged at the Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, New York.
Photo by Liao Pan
China News Agency reporter: How did Tang poetry collide with Western arts such as opera?
Tian Haojiang:
Tang poetry is the peak of Chinese literature.
In China, everyone learns and recites Tang poems from childhood, which is the inheritance of culture.
Speaking of fusion, I have been an opera singer for over 35 years and believe most in singing.
I have sung in dozens of operas and performed more than 1400 performances.
In my opinion, there is a power in singing, which is difficult to describe, and it can move you.
Whether it is Italian opera, German opera, Chinese folk songs or modern Chinese opera, the audience can feel it every minute and every second, and will be attracted unconsciously.
The actors in the Tang poetry concert are all young opera singers. As long as they sing with heart and well, singing can make us feel each other better.
This is the power of communication.
In my opinion, both western operas and original Chinese operas have songs and music that have become classics, which is directly related to the richness, symphony and singing quality of music.
This Tang Poetry Concert is not a simple poetry issue, but a complete and profound art presentation issue.
When composers create, they put their inner feelings into their works.
Composers from many countries combined their historical knowledge and integrated their feelings for Tang poetry with modern music.
Finally, our opera singers express this feeling again.
This is a new comprehensive presentation.
Singer Tian Haojiang at his apartment near Lincoln Center in New York, the wall behind him is covered with stills of his opera roles.
Photo by Liao Pan
China News Agency reporter: From the collection of works to the final formation of the concert, what is your biggest feeling? For this performance, what are the considerations for the configuration of actors and orchestras?
Tian Haojiang:
Our team started from organizing the international composition competition, and spent nearly 8 months selecting a group of young composers from 6 countries to compose Tang poems.
This is a project that has not been tried before, and how it will be presented in the end and whether it can be performed is full of unknowns.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the Western performance market was closed, we still received great support from many parties.
Later, singers from many countries traveled thousands of miles to China to participate in rehearsals, and the Tang poetry concert was premiered in China.
Today, this project can continue to the stage of Lincoln Center in New York, it can be said that it has gone through thousands of miles.
This time the 15 soloists come from 10 countries.
To do this project, you must have feelings for Tang poetry, and you must have the pursuit of presenting new works.
As for the orchestra, we are very honored to cooperate with the famous Philadelphia Orchestra for this American performance.
Every note played by the Philadelphia Orchestra, especially the strings section, lifts the work up to more than one level.
The level of their performance, including coordination and symphony, is a lift for our singers.
After the performance, Tian Haojiang, the artistic director of the concert, took a group photo with all the cast and crew.
Photo by Liao Pan
Reporter from China News Agency: From the beginning of learning vocal performance, to participating in operas, and then as an art director, your perception of Eastern and Western art is multi-dimensional and multi-layered. How do you feel about this experience? In the field of vocal music, what do you think is good art?
Tian Haojiang:
For a singer, the influence of experience on singing is undeniable.
A person's experience is not only on the stage or in the conservatory, but is directly related to various encounters in his life.
The more you experience, the richer and deeper your understanding of joy, anger, sorrow and joy will be.
Everything you've been through has helped shape your character on stage.
Any kind of vocal art is actually related, and they cannot be separated.
People who engage in vocal art must have a broad vision of singing and music forms.
I'm an opera singer myself, and I also like pop, jazz, folk, etc.
For me, good art should be pleasant to hear and touching, both of which are extremely important.
China News Agency reporter: Will the Tang poetry concert go to other countries? What plans or intentions do you have for the future?
Tian Haojiang:
As far as I know, some viewers went to New York to watch the Tang poetry concert in Philadelphia.
It can be said that after the two performances in the United States, the audience's reaction exceeded my expectations.
The Tang poetry concert is worth going to countless places to perform.
However, I don't know whether I can win investment in the future.
Generally speaking, when Tang poetry is mentioned, Song Ci comes to mind. Should we continue to do Tang poetry concerts or turn to Song Ci or try folk songs?
Let me ask you this question.
Everyone's expectations will inspire us.
2023 "Happy Chinese New Year" "Echoes of Tang Poetry: iSING! Suzhou and Philadelphia Orchestra Chinese New Year Concert" performance scene.
Photo by Liao Pan
China News Agency reporter: How do you view the communication between Eastern and Western cultures? In terms of artistic creation and interpretation, how do you think Chinese culture should communicate with the world?
Tian Haojiang:
I believe that culture is inclusive, and exchanges and integration between different cultures are very important, so that the world will be more hopeful.
Just as art cannot stay on a single tone, it must need beautiful harmony and melody.
Chinese culture is not an isolated culture, and will definitely integrate with other cultures in the world.
Moreover, culture itself has a kind of equality, and the communication between cultures should be carried out naturally and from the most beautiful angle.
Singing also plays a role in communication.
Feeling different cultures through different art forms is a good way of communication.
(Finish)
Respondent profile:
Singer Tian Haojiang.
Photo by Liao Pan
Tian Haojiang is the first Chinese singer who has signed a contract with the Metropolitan Opera House in New York for 20 years. He has participated in more than 1,400 operas in more than 40 world-class opera houses, and has worked with Pavarotti, Domingo, etc. He has collaborated many times and won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Denver and an honorary doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music.