When Ye Xiaogang first performed at the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, he was an 11-year-old dancer. Now, as one of China’s most renowned composers, he will present his works at the 40th edition of the festival this year.
On March 12, Ye, chairman of the China Musicians’ Association, flew from Beijing to Shanghai to prepare for the upcoming “Ye Xiaogang Symphonic Works Concert,” scheduled for April 2 at the Shanghai Symphony Hall. The concert will be conducted by 86-year-old Chen Xieyang, marking his 60th anniversary in the music industry.
In 1999, at the 18th Shanghai Spring Music Festival, Chen led the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in performing Ye’s compositions Spring and The Story of Shenzhen. According to Zhou Ping, director of the orchestra, the ensemble has since performed over 30 of Ye’s works.
The concert will feature the symphonic suite A Song of Farewell, commissioned by the orchestra in 2018 and adapted from Ye’s 2010 opera of the same name. Ye explained, “I want the audience to follow the narrative thread and experience the emotional ups and downs of the story, even without the opera’s arias and lyrics.”
Zhou recalled, “During the opera’s premiere, I noticed people humming the melody as they left the concert hall. This demonstrates Ye’s ability to create beautiful, memorable tunes—a signature of his style.”
Ye admitted that in his younger years, he took pride in composing complex music, even to the point where conductors complained about frequent beat changes that made it difficult for orchestras to play. Today, he firmly opposes the trend among young composers to showcase their skills through hard-to-understand works. “Music is meant to be listened to, not studied,” he said. “I aim to create pieces that will be performed for decades, enjoyed by audiences, and recognized as the sound of our culture and era.”
The concert program will also include Mount Emei, inspired by the landscapes and culture of Sichuan Province, and Cantonese Suite, based on the folk music of Ye’s home province, Guangdong.
The 40th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival will run from March 17 to April 9, featuring 50 concerts, six dance productions, and 13 other events such as mini-festivals, music-themed exhibitions, and a call for new compositions.
Xia Yujing, deputy chairperson of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, noted that 10 national troupes will participate in the festival, with over 40% of the programs showcasing new works or emerging artists, highlighting the latest achievements in China’s music scene. Additionally, more than 30% of the performances are international productions, including Wuthering Heights by the UK’s Wise Children Theatre Company, which will debut on the Chinese mainland at Shanghai Culture Square from April 4 to 6.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The opening concert will feature three modern Chinese compositions: Ode to the Red Flag, Yellow River Cantata, and China, My Beloved Mother. Furthermore, 2025 will celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, with the festival hosting seven Italian music performances.
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