Famed school to conduct grand reunion

It will be a rare moment when eight of the most famous Chinese composers, Tan Dun, Chen Qigang, Guo Wenjing, Ye Xiaogang, Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Qu Xiaosong and Su Cong, reunite for a performance of their works.

The special event will take place on January 7 at the concert hall of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, which is alma mater of the eight composers. The concert, which will conclude the 7th Central Conservatory Music Festival, is in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 1977 class, which bore all the eight composers, and many others.

"Many works will have their world premieres at this concert," said Han Xiaoming, artistic director of the Central Conservatory Music Festival. "It will be a good opportunity for these classmates to meet as well as for the audiences to appreciate the works of these famous composers."

In 1977, China had its first public examination for the entrance of universities and colleges after the "cultural revolution"(1966-76). Over the 10 years, so many talents had accumulated that more than 17,000 students applied for the Central Conservatory of Music in 1977, and many of them were already accomplished musicians.

In order to accommodate the demand, some teachers of the conservatory like Yang Jun and Zuo Yin wrote a letter to Deng Xiaoping, the then vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, to ask for a higher quota.

Deng approved the request. In the end, the conservatory admitted 213 new students that year, more than double the original quota of 105. Many of those students later became China's most established musicians.

The Central Conservatory Music Festival will also present another 17 concerts from November 18 to January 7, including four in recognition of China's most famous bel canto vocalist Guo Shuzhen. One of the performances celebrating Guo's 60-year career will feature the Youth Chinese Orchestra of the conservatory. The opening concert will be held at Beijing Concert Hall on November 18.

"It has been six years since the first Central Conservatory Music Festival. I hope this year's festival will further expand the market of classical music and provide a feast of various styles for music fans," said Han.

(China Daily 12/04/2007 page19)