Liao Changyong, president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music: Let Yangchun Baixue no longer be high and widowed

Recently, the standard of "virtue and art" of people in the literary and art circles has become a hot topic in the whole society. In this regard, Liao Changyong, president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (hereinafter referred to as "Shangyin") and a famous singer, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China Youth Daily and China Youth Network that "morality" should be considered in the first place of educating people.

The character end is the "primary indicator" of educating people

Recently, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music is preparing for the construction of the Shangyin Academy. "Shangyin is definitely excellent in the field of professional teaching. But we are increasingly finding that students can no longer focus on the small piece of their major. Liao Changyong believes that professional "play" can be slipped up again, and if the vision is not broad enough and the character is not noble enough, the career development path of young people will not go far.

After the completion of Shangyin College, it will devote itself to the general education of all students in the school on issues such as moral conduct. In addition, Shangyin also launched the "peer mentor system", so that the senior of Shangyin grows up with the students of Shangyin School, "the attitude and experience of being a person and doing things are passed on to the students from middle school." ”

Liao Changyong told reporters that in the literary and art circles, the old method of "mentoring and apprenticeship" is still the most important way for a young person to grow into an excellent artist. His teacher, the famous music educator Zhou Xiaoyan, has given guidance at different stages of Liao Changyong's growth.

On the eve of graduating from university, Liao Changyong received invitations from well-known opera houses in many countries. But when asking for the mentor's advice, Zhou Xiaoyan made it clear that she hoped he would "take root in China and look at the world." Zhou Xiaoyan reminded him, "You should serve the country, boldly go to the international stage to show China's first-class educational achievements, make good friends in the world, and invite these people to perform at home." ”

Every year Liao Changyong goes abroad to perform, at the request of Zhou Xiaoyan, he will bring back the latest scores and records from abroad, "She has always been concerned about the latest music developments abroad." ”

Once, Zhou Xiaoyan was hyped up on the Internet, and students expressed their desire to "correct her name". But Zhou Xiaoyan stopped the students, "The singer stands on the stage, and 60% of the people applaud you, which means that you have achieved certain results; if 80% of the people applaud, then you have achieved great success." It's impossible to make everyone love you. ”

Now, Liao Changyong often tells the story of Zhou Xiaoyan to the students, "Do yourself well, show everyone the actual achievements and actions, and be frank." ”

In 2021, at the initiative of Liao Changyong, Shangyin teachers and students broke the gap between departments and departments, schools and society, re-rehearsed the "Long March Suite" and conducted a national tour, teachers and students went to the museum on the Long March Road together to redesign and rehearse this classic work together. "I hope to establish the determination of young musicians to fight for the literary and artistic cause of the motherland." Liao Changyong said.

Breaking the "three doors" and "academic school" into more youth vision

In the music circle, the "three doors" are considered to be barriers to the development and innovation of music, that is, the "division door" between teachers and teachers, the "department door" between faculties and departments, and the "school gate" between schools and society.

Liao Changyong focused on breaking these bottlenecks restricting development in Shangyin, so that young musicians can better play their strengths, and traditional music and ethnic music have entered the public eye more.

"Some people don't understand, you are a baritone singer, why did you go to a variety show?" I told them that you see it as a variety show, and I see it as an academic activity of mine. In recent years, Liao Changyong has frequently appeared in variety shows, and one of his important goals is to break the "three doors", unveil the mysterious "academic school", and make classical music and other "Yangchun White Snow" no longer high and low.

"We practitioners should devote more energy and efforts to ensure the quality of our teaching, and create more and better literary and artistic works to repay the market's trust in us." Liao Changyong later participated in the recording of CCTV's "Classic Arias", through which he hoped to promote the "Chinese art songs" he had been studying to more young people, "so that more young musicians can join in the promotion of traditional Chinese music and traditional culture." ”

He introduced that now Shangyin has broken down the barriers between teachers and teachers, regularly organize teaching and research department activities, and teachers bring their respective students to help students grow together. For example, if some students are going to participate in the competition, teachers from different majors in the teaching and research department will help students process their works together.

In addition, the barriers between school departments and departments have also been broken through practical activities. Taking "Long March Suite" as an example, Shangyin will open up rehearsals between traditional music departments such as the Department of Folk Music and the Department of Vocal Opera with Western music departments such as the Piano Department, the Orchestra Department, and the Composition and Conducting Department, and then cooperate with the Department of Music Engineering and the School of Digital Media Arts to reorganize this traditional work. In the end, Shangyin teachers and students realized "stepping out of the school gate" to serve the society.

Use the "Chinese voice" to knock on the door of world art

Amid the melodious piano and singing, a Chinese-style study unfolds, with wooden Chinese tables and chairs with a blue and white porcelain vase and an ink painting that blends in with the music...

Such a scene can now be seen in musical theaters in many countries. This is a "cross-border" art brought by Liao Changyong. After holding this Chinese concert in Vienna, Austria in 2019, they were invited to the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the Kassel Conservatory of Music in Germany, the Gerg Theatre in Germany, cardiff University in the United Kingdom, the Royal Conservatory of Music in the United Kingdom, and participated in the Rhine Festival in Germany and the Sarina Festival in Finland.

"When I was young, I won the first prize in an international competition in Norway, and then I went on more than 10 tours in Europe, and people told me that your Chinese songs were so good." Liao Changyong told reporters that spreading good Chinese songs to the rest of the world was his wish and the serious thing he was now "trying to do."

Not long ago, Liao Changyong's "Three Wishes for Roses: 16 Chinese Art Songs" was officially released internationally by the world's oldest music publishing house, Big Bear Publishing House. According to the normative requirements of Big Bear Publishing House, Liao Changyong specially configured the International Phonetic Alphabet for "Three Wishes of Roses: 16 Chinese Art Songs" that can restore Chinese pronunciation to the greatest extent. This version of the phonetic alphabet can help people from all over the world to "sing Chinese songs in a round and round way".

From the selection of repertoire to the translation of lyrics, Zhuyin reading and other links, Liao Changyong brought together multidisciplinary professional assignments such as shangyin composition, vocal performance, art tutoring, and musicology, "just to let more people sing and love Chinese works." ”

He believes that the goal of vocal artists should be to first sing Chinese songs in China and let Chinese audiences love you; then to sing Chinese songs abroad so that more people can understand Chinese music culture; and finally sing foreign songs in China, so that more domestic audiences can understand foreign cultures, "We should be the messengers of cultural exchanges."

China Youth Daily, China Youth Network reporter Wang Yejie Source: China Youth Daily

Source: China Youth Daily