China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater

Affiliated to the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater is the largest state-level theatrer with the longest history in China. It presents to the audience a series of diverse theatrical performances. Within the theatre there is an opera troupe, dance drama troupe, folk music troupe, symphony orchestra, creation studio as well as a stage designing department. The theatre was established in 1951, with Yan’an Lu Xun College of Art as its predecessor. The first Dean of the theatre was the famous artist Zhou Weizhi, and Tao Cheng, a Musicology PhD, is the present Dean of the theatre.

In addition to a group of famous artists such as Ma Ke, Qiao Yu, Wang Kun, Guo Lanying, Zhao Qing, Liu Wenjin, Chen Ailian, Wu Yanze, Xu Peidong and Guan Xia in the past, many young and middle-aged artists have emerged into prominence in recent years. In 1964, the theater participated in the grand musical dance epic The East is Red, in which the song Nanniwan sung by Guo Lanying has lived on in the memory of Chinese people for generations. Over half of the century, the theater has performed more than one hundred operas and dance dramas, such as The White Haired Girl, Xiao Eehei's Marriage, The Lotus Lamp, The Dream of Red Chamber, Wildness, and The Shadow of Fence, which have marked the history of Chinese opera and dance drama and established symbolic images for China’s theatrical arts. China’s national leaders such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, as well as heads of many foreign countries have enjoyed the performances.

In recent years, the theater has produced a series of new masterpieces, such as Red River Valley (Opera), Confucius (Dance Drama), Charm of the Seasons, Wishes from Heaven, and Carnival on the Road (all Song and Dance). At the invitation of a several countries, the theatre has frequently presented its performance to audience around the world.

With its classical stage performance, masterful arts and first-class artists, the theatre has won wide recognition and appreciation not only domestically but also worldwide.

With a history of over 50 years, China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater (CNODDT) Chinese Music Orchestra has created a large number of renowned and popular operas and dance dramas, e.g. Xiao Erhei's Marriage, The White-haired Girl, The Liu Hulan, Lotus Lamp and Injustice to Dou E, in cooperation with veteran singer Guo Lanying and veteran dancer Chen Ailian, which have been popular among generations. During its performance practice over the past decades, it has formed a unique artistic style and fostered a large number of performers with high artistic attainments. As a renowned national-level orchestra at home and abroad, (CNODDT) Chinese Music Orchestra has accumulated many transitional and popular instrumental music works in the history of Chinese music, which has become long-playing and highly-appreciated repertoires. Over the years, its members have took part in national and international instrumental music competitions and won many prizes, including Skylark Award, the prize of the 1st Chinese Music Performance Competition of the Ministry of Culture, the prize of “Fulitong” Cup International Chinese Instrumental Music Competition, the silver prize of the 1st Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. Moreover, they have published CDs like The Worship and The Seasons and won wide praises from insiders. In June 1998, during the state visit of former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, the Ministry of Culture and CNODDT Chinese Music Orchestra presented a colorful high-quality performance combining Chinese and western styles to former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Mr. and Mrs. Clinton at the Great Hall of People. After the performance, they met former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Mr. and Mrs. Clinton and won praises from them. Currently, they are devoted to exploring light Chinese music.

Zhejiang Traditional Orchestra

Established in 1957, Zhejiang Traditional Orchestra has gained reputation home and abroad under the lead of Zhejiang Song and Dance Theater for its distinctive music of Zhejiang area. In the past fifty years, a number of outstanding artists such as Dizi performer Zhao Songting, Xiao performer Song Jinglian, percussion performer Qian Xiaomao, Banhu performer Wang Huinan and composer Qian Zhaoxi, etc. Since 1980s, the orchestra has absorbed batches of excellent graduates from conservatories, making the group infinite vitality.

Over years’ delication in sorting, studying and developing traditional music, numerous productions have been created to demonstrate the local flirtatious expressions of Zhejiang area, like The General's Triumph, The Fisher's Jubiliant Song and Boat Song in Water Village; Dizi production like Three Five and Seven; Erhu Ditty of the Water Village; Pipa and Sanxian Duo Spring of Jiangnan - South Spring and so on. Besides, works of modern techniques in combination with traditions have been also invented to meet the increasing need of audiences. Among them, Primitive Safari, The General’s Command, Joy and Mu Guiying have received highly praise from foreign audiences across the world.

Zhejiang Traditional Orchestra has represented Zhejiang Province visiting scores of countries and regions such like the US, Germany, Finland, Japan and Malaysia, winning high attention of local cities and influential medias. 2006 and 2007 only, Zhejiang Traditional Orchestra successfully held 20 Chinese New Year Concerts in 9 European countries. The live had been broadcasted by satellite TV, also reported by CCTV. From 2007 to 2009, Zhejiang Traditional Orchestra in successive 3 years holding concerts in Beijing Concert Hall and NCPA, highly approved by critics and the industry. In 29th December 2012, prestigious conductor Zhang Guoyong was invited to collaborate with the orchestra, rewarding the support of traditional music lovers.

Shaanxi Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra

Founded in 1950, the Shaanxi Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra (SBCO) is one of the oldest and the most professional Chinese traditional orchestras in Western China. For over 60 years, the orchestra has witnessed the growth of a great number of famous traditional Chinese artists. In recent years, the orchestra has enticed many young musicians graduated from the most distinguished conservatories in China to join the team and thereby cultivated a refreshing and vigorous image.

The Shannxi Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra has participated in many foreign cultural affairs since its establishment, representing Shannxi Province. In June 2007, the orchestra has performed on the occasion of a grand reception for one of the most renowned American delegations, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities during its visit to China. The Head of the Committee voiced her amazement and appreciation of Chinese music fervently after attending the performance and described the event as an unforgettable experience of Chinese hospitality and culture.

The Shannxi Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra has won numerous first prizes in the major instrumental competitions in China. The orchestra also performs regularly in smaller ensembles, which have likewise been rewarded with several top category prizes on various occasions. Through extensive education programs, the orchestra has continuously supported young instrumentalists. Due to its strong dedication to the development of Chinese traditional music, the orchestra nowadays possesses of a broad range of fine soloists that inspire the audience worldwide.

Guangdong National Orchestra of China

Guangdong National Orchestra was founded in 1949, after the revolution and development of the National Band of the South China Song and Dance Ensemble, Guangdong Song and Dance National Ensemble. Guangdong National Orchestra became an independent institution in 2011, and one of the most powerful traditional Chinese music groups. The professional Chinese music orchestra was also the first to open season performances in the Chinese mainland. Sin 2002, the group has ushered in the fifteenth music season, and accumulated rehearsal over 3000 repertoires. The current music director and concertmaster conductor is the outstanding Chinese conductor Zhang Lie.

For decades, the orchestra regarded popularization of Chinese music as a duty, and made an outstanding contribution to inheritance and development of Cantonese music, Chaozhou music and Guangdong Han music. The orchestra has composed and rearranged a large number of excellent Lingnan music works, and it has won various kinds of music competitions awards both in China and abroad. The orchestra and some of the performers represented China and Guangdong Province to visit many countries in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, and also went to performed made cultural communication and artistic exchange in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan region. T和orchestra participated in the "Chinese Arts Festival", "Tokushima Japan Folk performing Arts Festival", "Singapore Asian performing Arts Festival", "Hong Kong International Youth Arts Festival", "Macau International Music Festival", "Shanghai Spring International Music Festival", "Celebrations of 1997 Return of Hong Kong and 1999 Return of Macau", and other large-scale performances at home and abroad, and received highly praises from experts and the community. In May 2006, the original work "Lingnan Variation" performed by the orchestra in "the 4th Beijing Modern Festival", and caused a sensation in music world, known as "To create a new path for Chinese music, reflecting the--‘perpetual motion’of Cantonese's spirit of innovation and exploration." From January to February 2008, the orchestra went to toured "Chinese New Year’s Concert" in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, eight cities in all, where the orchestra obtained a huge success; In September 2015, the internationally renowned composer Zhao Jiping, as artistic director, collaborated with seven Chinese composers to create a large-scale national symphonic cycle "Cantonese rhythm Along the silk Road", which is reflecting the Maritime Silk Road theme. The piece was performed by the orchestra in National Centre for the Performing Arts, and went to tour in ten cities in China. The tour sparked heated debate, and obtained the high praise from throughout audience. "Traditional Chinese music" magazine published an article entitled "epic themes, grand narrative", and the article set a high value on the piece and performance. Meanwhile the orchestra participated in the "2nd International Festival of the Silk Road" and got the "Silk Road Culture Contribution Award". In addition, the orchestra recorded and published a series Chinese music orchestra album:"Floating Chinese Music", "Southerly Quintessence", "Lingnan Variations"，"Lingnan Song","Cantonese Rhythm of Chinese" and so on. The "Floating Chinese Music" was nominated in the 2nd China Golden Disc Award, and won the award for the Best Orchestral Performance.

Based on market mode of season performance, the Guangdong National Orchestra strives to expand artistry, business, commonweal, popularity and other diversified performance market. Through the development of professionalism, the orchestra would continue making unremitting efforts to promote the traditional Chinese music and Guangdong Lingnan music.

Conductor: Zhang Lie

Zhang Lie -- A membership of Chinese Musicians Association and Executive Director of China Nationalities Orchestra Society, Vice President of China Conductor Committee and also a National Class One Conductor. In August 2016, he was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Conductor of China Nationalities Orchestra in Xin Yi Cup.

Now Zhang Lie is a Permanent Conductor of China Radio and Film Symphony Orchestra as well as the China Radio National Orchestra, and he also composes music in the creation studio of the orchestra. Zhang Lie was employed as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Guangdong National Orchestra. He is also the Art Director and Guest Conductor of Central Conservatory of Music, Hong Kong Traditional Orchestra, Singapore-Chinese Orchestra, Taipei Municipal Traditional Orchestra and Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts etc. Zhang Lie was graduated from the Xi'an Conservatory of Music in 1984, and he had a further education in the Conducting Department of Chinese Central Conservatory of Music. Then he went to Germany to attend the German Conductor Master Class and luckily had the guidance of Professor Baum.

Zhang Lie visited a dozen counties, such as Europe, Asia and the United States and regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. He created almost a hundred works, such as Orchestral, Ballet, Film Music, National Orchestra, Concerto and Vocal Music, and obtained many awards. His Percussion Concerto Random Thoughts of Guan Mountain became the main repertoire of some Chinese music orchestras in Hong Kong ,Singapore, Tai Wan and mainland. His major works in recent years include the Symphonic Dancing Music A Song of the High Wind and A Song of Unending Sorrow; the Film Music Dumb Girl and Sour Jujube Slope; National Orchestra Let Fly, Fantasy Xiao Ba Lang, Combined Percussion The Yellow River Trackers , Women General of Yang Family and so on. Among these works, the Fantasia Xiao Ba lang won the first prize in national competition while The Yellow River Trackers won the golden price of the national competition.

Zhang Lie has a clear and meticulous conducting style, and full of passion. He is good at grasp the inner soul of the music and show it in a innovated way.

As a British critic says, Zhang Lie has a deep understanding of the Chinese traditional instruments and explains music in his own way. He is the soul of the concert, he can balances the music and the feeling of the audiences. He can lead the audiences in to a world of rich and varied feeling.

Conductor: Hong Xia

Hong Xia is a National First Class Conductor in China and permanent conductor of the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater.

Hong is a member of the Chinese Musicians Association, a trustee of the China Nationalities Orchestra Society, and the vice-president of the Conducting Major Committee at the China Nationalities Orchestra Society. After graduating from the Shenyang Conservatory of Music in 1982, she studied conducting under Wu Lingfen and Li Huade at the Department of Conducting at Central Conservatory of Music. She served as permanent conductor of the Heilongjiang Province Song and Dance Theater Symphony Orchestra and Chinese Orchestra, and as conducting professor and master’s student advisor at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. Currently, she is the permanent guest conductor of the Changchun Film Studio Orchestra, the guest conductor of the Communication University of China Symphony Orchestra, and the guest chief conductor of the Chinese Chime Bells Orchestra from Hubei.

Hong has collaborated with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Central Policy Song and Dance Ensemble Symphony Orchestra, China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra, Changchun Film Studio Orchestra, Heilongjiang Province Song and Dance Theater Symphony Orchestra and Chinese Orchestra, Guangdong Chinese Orchestra, Liaoning Chinese Orchestra, China Traditional Orchestra Zhejiang, Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, Chinese Chime Bells Orchestra from Hubei, China Youth Chinese Orchestra, China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra, Kaohsiung Chinese Orchestra, and Macao Chinese Orchestra. She has travelled abroad multiple times to serve as an international judge for the Chinese Music Competition.

Hong Xia has conducted multiple large-scale concerts in many Chinese mainland cities as well as in Taiwan and Macao. She collaborated with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Central Policy Song and Dance Ensemble Symphony Orchestra on the “Chinese Music Classics of the 20th Century Concert”. She served as the conductor for the opening of the Fifth Changchun International Film Festival. She conducted and performed in the Shenyang Conservatory of Music’s original large-scale oratorio “Zhe Bu Zhu De Qing Shan” (Green Peak can't be covered). She conducted several works by the Chinese Traditional Orchestra of China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater, including “Sui Yue Ru Ge” (Years as songs), “Si Da Ming Zhu” (Four Masterpieces) and “Chun Jiang Hua Yue Ye” (Moon Night over the River of Spring). Moreover, she conducted the large-scale opera „Yuan Ye” (Savage Land) by the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater, which was performed more than fifty times in Beijing and across China.

In 2008, Hong Xia conducted the final concert of the Festival for “Works by International Female Composers”. As part of the first “China Orchestra Festival” organized by the National Center for the Performing Arts, she conducted the concert “The Flowers Are Still So Red – national and international Film Music of Changchun Film Studio”. At the „Chunhua Qiushi – Spring Flower Autumn Fruits” Festival for Art Schools organized by the National Center for the Performing Arts, she conducted the concert “Hua Cai Jin Qiu” (Colorful Autumn) with the Shenyang Conservatory of Music Youth Chinese Orchestra and Chinese Folk Choir. She conducted the Chinese Traditional Orchestra of China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater during the “National Traditional Music Concert”.

In 2007, she conducted the first “Liaoning Northern Chinese Orchestra New Year’s Concert” as well as its next three annual editions. She travelled abroad to Finland and other countries with the Chinese Traditional Orchestra of China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater. She conducted the traditional music concert “The World is Beautiful Because of You” by the Guangdong Chinese Orchestra, the “Hubei Chinese Chime Bells Orchestra Concert”, and the New Year’s Concert at the Sydney Town Hall in Australia.

In 2010, she conducted the large-scale traditional symphonic chorus “Zhuang Zu Shi Qing” (Poetic Sentiments of the Zhuang People) by the Chinese Traditional Orchestra of China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater which premiered in Beijing. In 2013, she served as conductor of the Macao Chinese Orchestra concert “Song Chang Jing Dian“(Singing the Classics) and for the “Works by Liu Wenjin Concert” organized by the Central Conservatory of Music during the “Fourth Wind Instruments Art Week”. Hong has conducted many concerts of individual vocalists, performers and composers. She conducted the “Works by Liu Xijin Concert” organized by the Shenyang Conservatory of Music in June 2006, the Hong Kong Newtune Chinese Orchestra in March 2014 and the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra.

Hong Xia is known for her mature, rigorous and expressive style that has a lot of character. Passionate but not over-the-top, detailed but not restrained, she is able to move with ease between Chinese and foreign, classical and modern, traditional and symphonic works.