Soprano Huang Yan's “Chinese Rhyme” Solo Concert Successfully Held in Toronto
(Toronto, China News Agency - Reporter Hai Hong) Soprano singer Huang Yan's solo concert was successfully held on November 16th at Knox United Church in downtown Toronto. The concert was titled “Chinese Rhymes and Poetic Odes - A Solo Concert of Art Songs Based on Ancient Chinese Poetry.“ Renowned host Zhou Jing hosted the concert. Guests from various circles in Toronto and hundreds of audience members watched the performance attentively, with a warm atmosphere and thunderous applause.
Singer Huang Yan
The concert features 18 programs, including ancient folk songs and the Book of Songs selected from the long river of Chinese history from the pre-Qin to the Qing Dynasty, as well as songs or recitations composed from classical poetry by famous poets, lyricists, and literary masters of different dynasties. The solo concert was planned by Huang Yan, directed by Wang Xiaoming, and hosted by Zhou Jing. Consuls Wang Yifei and Ma Zhensong from the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto, Canada, attended the concert. Zhang Wei, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Chinese Cultural and Arts Organizations, Canada, attended the concert. Yan Fei, President of the Chinese Writers Association of Canada, attended the concert and took a photo with Huang Yan, Zhou Jing, and others after the performance.
Group photo of the main creative team of Huang Yan's concert
Huang Yan graduated from the Music Department of the School of Arts at Xiamen University. She studied under Professor Chen Yanfang of the School of Arts at Xiamen University, Professor Zhan Shihua of the Music Department at Jimei University, Professor Guo Lingbi of the Vocal Music Department at the China Conservatory of Music, and the national first-class actor Mr. Yan Dongdong. She has successfully held solo concerts. She won the Silver Award at the 2009 China Excellent Song Singer Exhibition Competition, the Gold Award at the Fujian Provincial Singer Competition, and a gold medal and silver medal in the folk category at the 2008 Graz World Choir Games in Austria. She has traveled to Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe, and other countries multiple times for musical and cultural exchange activities. In 2022, her family immigrated and settled in Canada. In 2023, she served as a judge for the semi-finals and finals of the “North American Extraordinary Star“ singing competition. She has been engaged in music teaching for over twenty years and has rich experience in vocal teaching. She currently serves as the vocal instructor for the Xinsheng Ailue Choir. On October 11, 2024, at the commemorative concert for the 85th anniversary of the premiere of "The Yellow River Cantata" and the 75th anniversary of its Canadian premiere, jointly organized by the Xinsheng Ailue Choir, Tsinghua Alumni Art Troupe, and the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, she performed "Yellow River Grievance."
Host Zhou Jing (Announcer name Xiaozhou)
Host Zhou Jing previously worked as a voice actor for China Central Television's Drama Production Department and participated in Beijing Television's evening talk shows. She served as a broadcaster and host for Beijing People's Radio, under the name Xiaozhou. She was responsible for news gathering, editing, and broadcasting on the News Channel, Education Channel, Life Channel, and Sports Channel. Her award-winning programs include "Eden" and "Life, Fertility, Life." She has hosted numerous large-scale events in China, as well as various cultural events, Mid-Autumn Festival galas, and Spring Festival galas in the Greater Toronto Area of Canada. She is also a Chinese language teacher at an arts college.
This was a concert with distinct cultural characteristics and high artistic taste. The concert opened with the pre-Qin folk song "The Song of Yue" performed by the Xinsheng Philharmonic Choir. Most of the program featured a solo performance by Huang Yan, accompanied by a piano. Huang Yan sang many popular ancient Chinese poems that night, including "Guan Ju" from the Book of Songs, "Bai Tou Yin" and "Feng Qiu Huang" by Zhuo Wenjun and Sima Xiangru, as well as timeless masterpieces by renowned poets like Li Bai, Li Shangyin, Xin Qiji, Su Shi, Cao Xueqin, Li Yu, and Han Yu. These included "Autumn Wind Verse," "Jin Se," "Yuan Xi," "Do Not Listen to the Wind Passing Through the Forest," "Wasted Grief," "When Will the Spring Flowers and Autumn Moon End," and "You Lan Cao," among others. The concert also featured guest performances in between, such as baritone Tang Hong singing "The Great River Flows East," Peng Xin singing "The Seven-Paces Poem," and famous Toronto host Yang Yi reciting "Bring in the Wine."
Consul Wang Yifei (2nd from right) and Consul Ma Zhengsong (1st from right) of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto, Canada, and Zhang Wei (4th from left), Vice Chairman of the Federation of Chinese Cultural and Arts Organizations in Canada, attended the concert.
Huang Yan has a wide vocal range, with a mellow and bright tone. Her high notes possess penetration and a sense of space, while her low notes are clear, delicate, and full of emotion. Her passionate, rhythmic, and elegant singing transports the audience through time and space, allowing them to appreciate the unique charm of classical Chinese poetry and its perfect fusion with music. Through her voice, she conveys the artistic conception of each poem to the audience.
As the most poetic, picturesque, and resplendent treasure of traditional Chinese culture, ancient Chinese poetry is the quintessence of Chinese civilization in language and literature. Hostess Zhou Jing said that the end of language is the beginning of music. In this concert, which is based on classical poetry, the hostess's poetic introduction and recitation skills are crucial, and her hosting has become a major highlight of the concert.
A group photo of Mr. Yan Fei (Yan Daxia), President of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, alongside singer Huang Yan, host Zhou Jing, stage actress Yu Rong, and others.
In the sacred Western church, the holy, pure, and lyrical ancient charm of Eastern China resounded. This was a concert that preserved ancient styles and was full of elegant charm, singing harmony and beauty. As the host introduced, Huang Yan and guests sang, the audience reviewed and savored excellent verses and chapters of Tang and Song poetry. Through ancient poems and songs, they felt the profoundness and beauty of Chinese culture and enjoyed the artistic pleasure brought by the concert.
This was a solo concert worth praising and cherishing, a successful one at that. Guests from all walks of life in Toronto and hundreds of audience members watched the performance attentively, creating a warm atmosphere with thunderous applause.
