Liao Changyong Reinvents Chinese Art Songs in Liederabend

Liao Changyong, the celebrated baritone and President of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (SCM), unveiled an evolved new chapter of the “Chinese Art Song Centenary” series last night at Shanghai’s He Luting Concert Hall.Marking the sixth installment since the project’s inception six years ago, the recital featured the Shanghai debut of the Shangyin Soloists. This chamber ensemble provided a rich, instrumental reimagining of 19 songs spanning over a century of Chinese musical history. Over half of the repertoire was drawn from the 1920s and ’30, the formative decades when the Western Lied tradition first took root in China.Under the baton of Zhang Lu, Liao was joined on stage by a quartet of prize-winning young vocalists, including two baritones and two sopranos. Liao himself delivered seven songs throughout the evening, garnering thunderous, sustained applause.In a departure from the series’ traditional piano accompaniment, Liao’s introduction of a chamber ensemble represents a significant creative “upgrade.” Many of the works performed were selected by the young singers from a newly released songbook recently published by the SCM Press. European audiences will soon have the chance to experience this new format, as Liao and the Shangyin Soloists are scheduled to bring a similar programme to Germany this June. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit klassikom.substack.com