Love of song bonds chorus and community

Fifteen years ago, a group of passionate voices came together to found the China NCPA Chorus, with a mission to meet the demand for opera productions by the National Centre for the Performing Arts — an iconic venue in Beijing launched in 2007.

Today, the China NCPA Chorus stands as a beloved pillar of the arts community with its sound resonating far beyond the walls of rehearsal spaces and concert halls.

As the chorus celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, it held a concert at the center on Sunday, reflecting on a journey that has been defined by growth, collaboration and a shared love of song.

The event featured performances conducted by distinguished maestros Lyu Jia, Wu Lingfen and Zheng Jian, all of whom have had close collaborations with the chorus over the years, along with the chorus' resident conductor, Jiao Miao. Together, they presented a selection of the chorus' finest works accumulated over the past 15 years, including the choral cycle Reverberant Melodies in Memory by composer Zou Ye and lyricist Zou Jingzhi, the song On a Great Journey in Unison by composer Yin Qing and lyricist Zhao Daming, and the aria Fuoco Di Gioia from Verdi's opera Otello.

Before the concert, a celebratory event was held at the NCPA concert hall where the chorus recognized and honored the exceptional contributions of its members throughout its 15-year journey.

"When I joined this chorus, I, like many other members, had just graduated from university and was full of expectations for this job. The chorus singers come from across the country. Unlike other choruses, these members receive training for singing and acting because one of our main jobs is to perform in operas. Looking back on this journey, I'm incredibly proud and honored," says tenor Yang Guangmeng, who was born and raised in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and graduated with a degree in singing from Tianjin Normal University in 2007, joining the chorus in 2009.

Resident conductor Jiao, who has been with the chorus since its inception, reflected on the ensemble's remarkable evolution.

"Every note, every rehearsal and every performance is an irreplaceable treasure on the chorus' path to growth," says Jiao, who graduated from the China Conservatory of Music and studied with veteran conductor Wu.

Jiao recalls the chorus' early days with fondness and nostalgia. When the choir was first established, many of the members were young graduates with limited experience in Western opera, which at the time wasn't as widespread in China as it is now.

They were thrust into the challenging environment of collaborating with world-class conductors, including legendary American conductor Lorin Maazel, which left them feeling both excited and nervous.

"At that time, our young members weren't very familiar with Western operas and the learning process was long. A new opera could take a month to fully master, which was a huge challenge for recent graduates," Jiao recalls.

However, over time, the chorus gained valuable experience and can now learn a new opera in just a week. This significant progress can be attributed not only to efficient training methods but also to the members' constant artistic growth and improved language skills.

The chorus performs at least 100 times a year at the theater and also tours at home and abroad. This intense schedule provides invaluable experience, allowing the members to excel in interpreting operas from various countries, styles and languages.

"The stage experience has become an invaluable asset for our performers. The chorus not only excels in opera performances but also brings unique experiences to audiences. Their artistic creativity is exceptionally strong," says Jiao.

The chorus has transformed from a group of young, inexperienced singers into an ensemble with 95 members, 28 of whom have more than 10 years of practice. New members face significant pressure and challenges, often having to match the skills of those who with decades of experience.

"Our veteran members have performed in 73 operas. Their expertise is second nature to them. For new members, especially in their first two to three years, the pressure is immense. We require high learning abilities," says Jiao.

The chorus performs more than 10 operas each year, covering both Chinese and international works. The learning process is intense and every performance demands a high skill level.

"Every rehearsal is an evaluation in itself since competition is fierce for the limited positions," Jiao says. "We assign the most difficult sections to everyone, which motivates them to perform their best."

Looking ahead, the chorus plans to continue pushing the boundaries of performance, with plans for an immersive concert experience next year that will integrate dramatic storytelling and theatrical elements, showcasing the members' acting abilities in a new format, according to Jiao.