World-class Chinese conductor Zheng Xiaoying visited Huaqiao University on Oct.18, offering students a wonderful seminar on “Popularizing Western operas among Chinese audiences” at the Tan Kah Kee Memorial Hall where she received tides of applause. The event was hosted by Prof. He Lili, Dean of College of Music and Dance of HQU.

Zheng Xiaoying, the first female conductor of the symphony orchestra following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, is the Honorary conductor for life of the China National Opera House(CNOH) and Artistic Director of the Zheng Xiaoying Opera Center. She worked as the director of the Conducting Department of the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music(CCOM), the chief conductor of the China National Opera House, and a co-founder and Music Director of the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, performed in more than 20 countries.

Zheng had visited HQU several times before. She performed with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra at the 2002 and the 2003 New Year Concerts of Huaqiao University, and her unique style of “teaching before performing” impressed the HQUers. On Nov. 1^st, 2009, she led again with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra in a brilliant symphony concert in celebration of the 49^th Anniversary of Founding of HQU. Besides, she was invited to give lectures and have exchanges in HQU.

During the seminar, Zheng shared herartistic concept andvision for the future of classical music in China, recalled her experience of studying opera, and talked about her artistic practice of “Introducing Classic Arts into the Campus” since the 1980s. She also introduced the progress she had made these years on “Popularizing western operas among Chinese audiences” with the aim “to make opera accessible to the public, and to bring audiences to opera”.

Taking the Chinese version of the opera “La Traviata” produced by the Zheng Xiaoying Opera Center and the classic chorus of the comic opera “Don Pasquale” which is about to be premiered in Quanzhou Grand Theatre as examples, Zheng introduced active young artists on the opera stages, analyzed the singing style and showcased the unique charm of the opera.

In the Q&A session, Zheng Xiaoying answered questions from music and opera lovers in the audiences, such as “How does music affect and promote the development of cities?” and “How to enhance the interaction with the audiences during the performance?”. She also shared her experience and suggestions of studying classical music with non-music majors.

Zheng Xiaoying in the Seminar on “Popularizing Western Operas Among Chinese Audiences”

At the Seminar

(Editor: Wei Linying)