The upcoming year of 2021 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, but it has a very special significance for Wang Li, the fifth generation of "Sister Jiang" in the classic national opera "Sister Jiang", who has performed this classic work for the hundredth time. "From the first time I played Sister Jiang, I always kept in mind the duties and missions of literary and art workers, inherited sister Jiang's spiritual character, and inspired contemporary young people with literary and artistic works." Wang Li said.
On August 29, Wang Li performed the 100th performance of "Sister Jiang". (Courtesy of the interviewee)
From the first game to the hundredth game
The opera "Sister Jiang" is a red classic masterpiece adapted from the novel "Red Rock" by the former Air Force Political Work Department Cultural and Labor Troupe, which caused strong repercussions throughout the country as soon as it was put on the opera stage in 1964, and became a bright pearl in the history of national opera.
Wang Li can't forget that in 2007, "Red Meizan" was sung at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, and "Sister Jiang" became the first national opera staged at the opening of the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
"After half a year of rehearsals and a performance scheduled for October 1, the Monument to the People's Heroes is right next to us, and I feel too sacred and glorious." Wang Li said.
Acting in the scene of "embroidering the red flag", Wang Li saw that the audience was crying, and then burst into warm applause, and the fifth generation of Jiang Jie was recognized by the audience.
Stills from the opera "Sister Jiang". (Courtesy of the interviewee)
Wang Li believes that she has taken over the inheritance baton from the hands of the first four generations of "Sister Jiang", in order to inherit the red classics and better carry forward the spirit of Sister Jiang, the singer after the 80s carefully watched the previous editions of "Sister Jiang" and humbly learned from the singers of the predecessors.
Rehearsals are held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, and after Wang Li eats a bite of food, she rushes to find a line teacher, a physical teacher, and a singing teacher to take turns practicing. After adding the "small stove" back home, she picked up the relevant books and materials, plunged into the ocean of knowledge, until two o'clock in the morning, "the more I learned, the more excited, the whole person was fascinated, only slept for three or four hours a day, did not feel bitter, did not feel tired." Wang Li said.
The first four editions of "Sister Jiang" have a strong brand of the times. In the new version of "Sister Jiang", Wang Li played her bel canto expertise and integrated some new singing methods, "I use a lot of tone singing voices to make the audience feel close to the eardrums." Wang Li said.
Sister Jiang is very firm in her treatment of faith, and Wang Li uses a lot of bel canto lyricism, with a sonorous and powerful feeling. Soft in the middle of the rigid, so that Wang Li's version of "Sister Jiang" marked the new era with the times branded.
On August 29, 2021, Wang Li performed the 100th performance of "Sister Jiang" at the Beijing Tianqiao Art Center. Talking about the changes in the first and hundred games, Wang Li said that she had heavier responsibilities and better understanding of the meaning of inheritance.
"When I first played Sister Jiang, I was still a fledgling little girl, and my understanding of the role was not very deep. After more than ten years of growth, I became a member of the Communist Youth League from a member of the Communist Youth League, and I also more deeply understood the Spirit of Hongyan represented by Sister Jiang. Wang Li said that Sister Jiang's deeds explain the integrity and true colors of a Chinese Communist Party member, and show the spirit of patriotism, selfless dedication and hard struggle. In the modernization of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, we should inherit and carry forward the spirit of Sister Jiang and become an important spiritual support for creating a better tomorrow.
Wang Li went to Huaping High School in Yunnan to visit Zhang Guimei. (Courtesy of the interviewee)
Sing "Red Mei Zan" with Zhang Guimei
The opera "Sister Jiang" has a very far-reaching influence on Wang Li, and the "Spirit of Sister Jiang" has become her spiritual pillar, inspiring her and inspiring her.
In 2008, a huge earthquake struck Wenchuan, Sichuan. Wang Li and her colleagues rushed to the hard-hit area of Mianzhu Qingping to comfort the air force commanders and fighters who participated in the earthquake relief.
There was no water or electricity, and food needed to be airdropped. "Helicopters have to fly sideways to get into the village, and if the propeller hits the tree, we're very dangerous." Wang Li said that even then, everyone should go, because comrades-in-arms are on the front line of earthquake relief.
After completing his mission, Wang Li joined the party in the line of fire. "In the era of peace, there are not many people in the line of fire, and we did experience life and death on that trip to the front line of earthquake relief and relief." Wang Li recalled the situation at that time and was still full of excitement.
Sister Jiang is like the red plum of the proud snow, giving people firmness and strength. Wang Li regards Zhang Guimei as a realistic version of Sister Jiang, "Teacher Zhang Guimei once said that the person she most admires is Sister Jiang, and her favorite song is "Red Meizan". ”
In September this year, Wang Li went to the Yunnan Huaping Girls' High School founded by Zhang Guimei to teach the children to sing "Red Meizan". "The red plums on the red rock open, the thousands of miles of ice are sealed under the feet, the three or nine cold is afraid, and a piece of Dan heart opens to the sun..." Zhang Guimei sang from beginning to end with the children.
Zhang Guimei's teacher's words Wang Li has always remembered vividly, "She said that the novel "Red Rock" and the opera "Sister Jiang" have always inspired her to persist until now, no matter what difficulties she encounters, she will take it out to see and sing. ”
Pass on the red classics
On Children's Day this year, Wang Li received a special invitation - mother and daughter sang "Red Meizan" together. This song is extremely difficult for children to sing. "Once a child is out of range of her vocal cords, she has a feeling of fear and feels that she can't sing well." Wang Li said.
Wang Li tried everything she could to tell her daughter the story of the background of "Red Mezan" and the deeds of the little radish head. "Through this way of storytelling, let the daughter be full of interest." In the end, the mother and daughter duo performed successfully.
Although her daughter still can't fully understand Sister Jiang's story and understand the connotation of "Red Mezan", Wang Li believes that when she grows up, she will definitely understand what her mother insists on doing. Wang Li said happily: "The first opera my daughter watched was 'Sister Jiang', and now she also teaches other children to sing 'Red Meizan', which is a kind of inheritance." ”
The inheritance of "Sister Jiang" is the mission of passing on from generation to generation, "We have the responsibility to inherit the red classics, carry forward the revolutionary spirit, let the red stories be passed on from generation to generation, and let the red songs be praised from time to time." Wang Li said that it is necessary to take Sister Jiang as an example, hold the baton in her hand, and use the spirit of Sister Jiang to inherit the opera "Sister Jiang".
As a classic singer, in order to make this classic opera keep up with the pace of the times and make the people happy to hear it, Wang Li always feels a heavy responsibility on her shoulders.