When discussing Chinese musicians on the world opera stage, it is impossible not to mention Tian Haojiang, who's been singing at the Metropolitan Opera of New York for 14 years. The singer has appeared in over 20 roles and in every season at the opera house since he began there . Internationally he is also highly praised for his performance in many international theatres in Italy, France and Germany. Now the Beijing-born bass singer is making a comeback in his homeland.
World class singer, Tian Haojiang, will hold a solo recital this Friday at the capital's Poly Theatre for the first time in 21 years. Though the concert seems to be a little bit belated, the singer's long-held dream has finally turned into reality.
"This has been my dream for 21 years. For anyone, if you can come back to your hometown to sing a concert to your relatives, friends, classmates and teacher, it's kind of dream. So my dream has come true. This is just unbelievable, because we just decided to do this about two and half months ago. It seemed to be impossible. But anything can happen. You never know. "
Over the years Tian has won acclaim for some of the greatest roles written for bass and these include Philip in Don Carlos, Mephistopheles in Faust and Timur in Turandot. This time the singer will bring some of the best of his repertoire to China.
"I'll be singing a few arias from different operas: Verdi's Don Carlos, Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Verdi's Nabucco, Hendal's Joshua and also Gounod's Faust. I'll also be singing two Chinese songs as well as one Irish folk song and one musical piece. One of the Chinese songs is called Gaelitai, a Chinese folk song. The other is called Eastward the River Rushes, a poem from the Song Dynasty by Su Shi. "
Of the roles that Tian's intends play at the concert, Tian said he loves Mephistopheles -- the devil in Faust -- the best.
"In the whole opera this devil is always standing high and away from the story. It's very interesting. Just image how can we have a chance to stand from a certain angle from life to watch and understand life and human being? You just can't have the chance. But if you can have the control and see how people think and feel, it will be very interesting. I don't think
Mephistopheles is a bad person. We all have wickedness inside ourselves, but sometimes we don't realize it. Mephistopheles gives Faust a chance. How great this character is!"
But to Chinese audience, not many can truly understand opera, which is a western music form. How will the opera pieces entertain Chinese people?
"Whenever I have a chance I will tell my friends and audience that opera is not that far from them. Basically it's a beautiful and rich form to enjoy because opera includes singing, orchestra, costumes, sceneries, lighting, stage designs, ballet and folk dance. There are so many things that are involved in opera. Whatever you like, you can get it from the opera. People have also started enjoying more and more about opera because of the beautiful melodies and voices."
Though operas are uncommon on the country's concert scene, Tian still sees the future of opera in China as a very brilliant one as more and more operas are based on plots or theme set in China. Tian says that in 2006, "First Emperor", an opera composed by Award winning composer, Tan Dun, will be staged in America with Placido Domingo and himself starring in two major roles. And it is very likely that the opera will come to China later on. Then domestic audiences will be able to enjoy the top singers' performance at home, once again .
(CRI.com August 20, 2004)
