Shanghai, 23 May (Xinhua) -- 85 years ago, a ragged but firm revolutionary contingent used their footprints to write an earth-shattering heroic epic of the Chinese nation.
On May 23, this was the performance site of the "Long March Suite" of the Chenshan Grassland Radio Music Festival. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fang Zhe
Tonight, 85 years later, as one of the blockbuster activities of the 2021 Shanghai Radio Festival, the new era version of the "Long March Suite Song" large-scale symphony choral concert created by Xinhua Net, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Xinhua News Agency Shanghai Branch, Xinhua News Agency", and Shanghai People's Radio, played a magnificent melody on the grass of Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden!
On the grass, the torrential rain suddenly stopped, the red flag was displayed, the crowd was surging with emotion, and the grand narrative of history was reawakened by art at this moment. The notes are full of revolutionary heroism; in the song, there is the city's passionate red heart...
Famous artists gather rookies gather in the meadow "Long March Group Song" tonight "Singing Loud"
On the evening of May 23, the giant stage on the grass of Chenshan Mountain was immersed in a red glow, and nearly 4,000 spectators braved the rain to come from all over the city of Shanghai. Dressed in raincoats, some excitedly waved the specially prepared five-star red flag and waited for the "opening" of this large outdoor red concert.
On May 23, Zhang Guoyong performed "Ode to the Red Flag" with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Youth Symphony Orchestra. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fang Zhe
On May 23, the choir sang in the new era version of the "Long March Suite". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fang Zhe
Everything is like divine help! At about 6:20, the torrential rain suddenly stopped and the sound of rain stopped. The famous conductor Zhang Guoyong took the stage and calmly and powerfully waved the baton. From "Ode to the Red Flag" to "Long March Suite Song", people's familiar and majestic melodies poured out, and the sound and light on the stage lit up at the same time, unfolding a magnificent "picture scroll" one after another, leading the audience through time and space and embarking on a shocking revolutionary historical journey.
"Long March Suite Song" was created and performed in 1965. This vocal suite, depicting the Long March of the Central Red Army from Jiangxi to northern Shaanxi, is a revolutionary musical epic and a picture of folk music.
In 2020, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music re-arranged the new era version of "Long March Suite", which premiered at the Shangyin Opera House on October 15, and was broadcast through Xinhua News Agency for video broadcast at the premiere, with a total of 80 million hits. The many innovations are refreshing and make people feel "like watching a blockbuster movie in a theater".
On May 23, the famous singer Liao Changyong (front third from left) led the performance of "Over the Snowy Mountains and Meadows". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fang Zhe
Unlike previous performances, this evening's new-age version of "Long March Suite" is not only performed outdoors, but also has the strongest lineup. Led by Liao Changyong, president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and famous singer, this performance "team" gathered famous artists and rookies - including Liu Ying, singers Huang Ying and Li Xiuying, folk music players Huo Yonggang and Chen Chunyuan, and outstanding student representatives of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Such as Fang Shujian and Cai Chengyu.
On May 23, Shanghai Radio and Television Host Cao Kefan (front left) and Huang Wenwen, a docent at the Sidu Chishui Memorial Hall in Zunyi City, recited "Four Crossings of Chishui Surprise Soldiers". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fang Zhe
The Shanghai Conservatory of Music Youth Choir and the Yangtze River Delta Regional Music Education and Arts Industry Development Alliance Choir formed a choir with nearly 200 members to sing live. Shanghai Radio and Television Hosts Cao Kefan, Luo Xin, Lu Ping, Wang Tao, together with 12 outstanding docents from the Long March Memorial Halls such as Yida, Zunyi, Xibaipo, Ruijin and other long marches, interspersed the performance with emotional recitations.
Listen to "Over the Snowy Mountain Meadow" on the grass, the outdoor red concert "sound into the heart"
The night on the grass is as cold as water, and the blood on the stage is boiling...
The Long March is an unparalleled revolutionary feat in history, a human miracle created by the Communist Party of China and the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army under its leadership, and an earth-shaking heroic epic of the Chinese nation. The Long March will forever be inscribed on the monument of the Chinese revolution.
"The red flag is waving, and the military trumpet is sounding." "Don't be afraid of bloodshed or suffering, the former servants will continue to kill tigers and wolves..." "Officers and soldiers are united in sharing weal and woe, and revolutionary ideals are higher than the sky..." "Miao Lingxiu, the rising sun..." "Dark clouds cover the sky and are difficult to last, and the red sun always shines..."
With the passionate chanting on the stage, people relived a "human legend" from 85 years ago. "Farewell", "Breaking through the Blockade Line", "Zunyi Meeting Shines", "Four Crossings of The Red Water Surprise Soldiers", "Flying Over the River", "Crossing the Snowy Mountains and Meadows", "To Wuqi Town", "Zhu Jie", "Annunciation", "Assembly Division"... Turning over the historical chapter of the Red Army revolution, although there are thousands of difficulties and dangers, what shines even more is the spirit of revolutionary optimism.
The creation of "Long March Suite" was composed by General Xiao Hua, who participated in the Long March, who recalled his experiences and feelings along the way and wrote them into poems, and then organized by the Beijing Military Region Comrades-in-Arms Cultural and Labor Troupe to cooperate in composing music. Xiao Hua's daughter Xiao Yun recalled: "My father asked my mother, 'What is your greatest feeling about the Long March', and her mother replied, 'First, the road is long and endless, and second, hunger makes people panic'. Therefore, my father pondered and wrote the verse 'Snowy, wild, cold plateau, cooking and grain'. ”
"At that time, they were cold and hungry, but the revolutionary spirit did not diminish. Everyone camped together, saw the stars in the sky, saw the mountains, and saw the comrades around them. These scenes are like in front of my eyes. Because of this revolutionary faith and original intention, all the sinister environment cannot overwhelm us. Liao Changyong, who sang "Over the Snowy Mountain Meadows", said.
"Listening to the 'Long March' on the grass, we seem to have traveled through time and space in music... I have seen the clip of the youth version of "Long March Suite" on the Internet before, and I am especially looking forward to coming to the scene to feel and listen. Now that I have arrived at the scene, I feel that it is worth the trip, very, very shocking! Ms. Cao, a 28-year-old practitioner in the financial industry, told reporters.
A generation has a generation of Long March Young people take over the banner of their ancestors
On the occasion of the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the "Long March Suite Song" of the new era sounded on the grassland of Chenshan Mountain once again played a "strong voice of faith" for Shanghai, the city of initial hearts.
From letting this generation of "new youth" sing the "Long March Suite" and providing fresh "four histories" learning materials for young students of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, to nearly 4,000 listeners immersed in the red melody at the grass concert... The Shanghai Conservatory of Music's youth version of "Long March Group Song" is exploring to create a "national music party lesson" that directly hits people's hearts.
Liao Changyong said that to this day, the "Long March Suite" still has the significance of the times with firm faith and persistent struggle. That spirit of optimism and pride in the face of difficulties has always been a precious asset in the journey of national rejuvenation. The recitation of classics and performances is to inherit, carry forward and practice the spirit of the Long March.
"A generation has a generational long march. We hope that the new era version of "Long March Suite" will enable these young people to take over the banner of their ancestors in the second hundred years. ”
As singers on stage, China's younger generation has also resonated more and more strongly with the spirit of the Long March.
Xie Zixuan, a member of the Fudan University Student Choir, said: "Interpreting this red classic reminds us that we must not forget those unforgettable histories. Participating in the performance is an immersive ideological and political lesson, so that we post-00s can more deeply appreciate the spirit of the Long March and continue to move forward with this spirit. ”
Produced by Xinhua News Agency's "Decoding Magic Capital" Studio
Source: Xinhua News Agency