On October 24, 2023, the first performance of the 17th “Spring Blooms and Autumn Fruits” Art School Stage Arts Exposition kicked off at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, featuring the concert version of the opera “Kangding Love Song,” presented by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
That evening, conductor Zhang Guoyong led the Shanghai Conservatory Orchestra and Choir, delivering an engaging performance of the first two acts of “Kangding Love Song,” which is rooted in traditional Chinese folk music.
Originating from the “liuliu diao,” a folk melody from the Kangding region of Sichuan, this opera tells the poignant story of a university graduate, Shang Yong, who ventures to the snowy plateau with dreams and ideals. Throughout his journey, he encounters a Tibetan elder named Ciwang, a young woman named Gama, and a retired soldier named Hong Zhongyi, illustrating the historical significance of the Sichuan-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet Highways. The narrative celebrates the spirit of these roads, promotes ethnic unity, and paints a vivid picture of contemporary heroes.
The opera emphasizes a high standard of orchestral music, showcasing a rich interplay between the musicians and vocalists that enhances the storytelling. Unique harmonic language and intricate choreography effectively allow the music to convey drama, while the narrative itself highlights the musical elements.
From now until December 3, the 17th “Spring Blooms and Autumn Fruits” exposition will unfold under the theme “Strengthening Action for the Future.” This year’s event aims to provide a platform for outstanding young artists across China, allowing them to showcase their talents and embody the essence of traditional Chinese culture and global artistic classics.
Nearly a thousand teachers and students from esteemed institutions, such as the China Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Tianjin Juilliard School, Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, Minzu University of China, Shandong Youth Political College, Hebei Vocational College of Arts, Yan’an University, and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, will participate in ten performances that cover music, dance, drama, and film arts. Through this initiative, they intend to honor historical classics, preserve ethnic culture, and express the voice of a new era.
This year’s exposition will continue its unique features from past editions, integrating classic art lectures and pre-performance discussions to create a distinguished, high-level platform for aesthetic education in colleges and universities.
