From mezzo-soprano to soprano, she proved her strength with a concert

Just a few years after returning from studying in Italy, Shanghai Opera House soprano Song Qian has already starred in more than a dozen opera heroines. On the evening of June 20, at the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall, she joined hands with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra to present a solo concert "Returning Starlight". Singers such as Wei Song, Dai Yuqiang, and Sun Li came to support the performance. Wu Gang, Yan "Drama stars" in the film and television industry such as Ni Ni and Feng Yuanzheng also recorded VCRs to express their congratulations. Classic arias from classic operas such as "La Traviata", "Tosca" and "The Barber of Seville" were sung one by one. Song Qian quickly switched between different roles with ease.

From China to Italy, from mezzo-soprano to soprano

After graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2004, Song Qian was admitted to the Shanghai Opera House Chorus, but she has been working as a soloist dream. A year later, the Shanghai Opera House conducted assessments for newly admitted actors, and Song Qian carefully prepared excerpts from Rossini's "Cinderella." Her strength and style attracted the attention of Luan Feng, one of the judges at the time and a traveling Italian bass singer. Luan Feng asked her if she would like to follow him to Italy to participate in a vocal competition, and Song Qian immediately agreed. Two months later, she lived up to expectations and entered the finals, winning the Outstanding Singer Award and the Most Potential Newcomer Award.

Subsequently, Song Qian successfully applied for the opportunity to study abroad sponsored by the state, and went to Italy, the coveted hometown of opera, to study for one year at the world-famous Verdi Conservatory of Music in Milan. Immersed in the world of opera, one year passed quickly. Song Qian resolutely quit her job at the Shanghai Opera House and stayed in Italy to continue her studies. She entered the Milan Conservatory of Music and became the first Chinese student recorded in the history of the academy.

In Italy, she experienced the hardship of working in a Chinese restaurant, the helplessness of having to fight with the landlord and sleeping on the street for dignity, and the thrill of being plotted and having her phone robbed. But Song Qian put these All regarded as gifts from fate.

In her third year in Italy, she participated in an audition and a judge said to her: "You sang very well, but you need to change the repertoire. We think you should sing soprano." In her second appearance, Song Qian sang a soprano excerpt from "Turandot". After singing, she felt smooth all over, as if she had found herself again. From then on, she made up her mind to transform from a mezzo-soprano to a soprano. "Actually, from mezzo-soprano to soprano, I didn't encounter much difficulty in vocal skills. The main reason was that the repertoire was different. I had to give up what I had accumulated over the years and start from scratch to learn new repertoire."

Cooperate with the symphony orchestra and challenge difficult arias

In 2014, the National Center for the Performing Arts created and staged the opera "Dennis Rider" and invited Song Qian to play the role of Mariana, which prompted her to make the decision to return to China. . Soon after, she learned that the Shanghai Opera House was recruiting opera singers at home and abroad, so she came to take the exam and became the only one selected that year. After many years, she returned to the place where her dream began. This time, she became a soloist in the opera troupe and starred in many operas.

For this solo concert, Song Qian chose to cooperate with the symphony orchestra. To dominate the performance, she relied on her strength and self-confidence. In the concert repertoire, there is an aria that can be called the "touchstone of soprano", that is "La Chastity" from Bellini's opera "Norma". This aria has coloratura, a wide range, and musical connotations. It tests the control, softness, and explosive power of the voice. It is often used by famous sopranos around the world to prove their strength.

"I have never performed "Norma", and this opera is rarely performed in China, but I especially like the aria "La Chastity". I feel beautiful as soon as the music plays." Song Qian said. In a concert where she could make the decision herself, she decided to take the initiative and challenge this difficult aria that she had never sung before. “It doesn’t matter if I don’t perform well, it allows me to discover my shortcomings and constantly improve myself.

"

In addition to Western opera arias, Song Qian also sang Chinese songs such as "I Love You China" and "My Motherland and Me" at the concert, giving a gift to the 70th birthday of New China. Back then, at her graduation concert in Italy, she asked to sing "I Love You China", whether in Italy or in China, Song Qian was always particularly emotional whenever she sang these songs, and good music always has transcendence. The power of national borders.

Song Qian said that her idol is opera singer Maria Callas, “No matter what she sings, her emotions are immediately in place and full of contagion. I also hope to be like her and dedicate my life to the opera stage. "At this point, Song Qian changed the topic. She was still single and said that she did not want to die alone like Karas. "I hope that outside the stage, I can gain a plain and warm love. ”