In the morning of Dec. 23rd, 2007, Former Vice Premier Li Lanqing gives a lecture On "Music, Art and Life" in Opera House of NCPA, a Launching Ceremony for "Opening the Gate of Art Education" of National Center for the Performing Arts. The event was sponsored by NCPA with the assistance of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and Higher Education Press. The Youth Symphony Orchestra and Youth Choir affiliated to CCOM gave the live performance for lecture and ceremony. President Wang Cizhao, Vice Presidents Li Xu, Xu Changjun, Zhou Haihong and over two hundred professors and students of CCOM attended the lecture and ceremony.
In three hours, Mr. Li Lanqing, former Vice Premier, presented the unique charms of musical art for over two thousands audiences. He interpreted every music composition with stories based on his rich life experiences and extensive musical accomplishment. All the audiences were filled with admiration by his vivid language, easy understanding principle and knowledgeable manner. From time to time, laughter and applause from the audiences filled the Opera House.
The Youth Choir performed two songs before the lecture began: Jianzhen Take a Sea-Voyage Eastward which composed by Li Lanqing with Guo Moruo's poem; and Song of Bud which also composed by him with his own lyrics. Then, Professor Wu Zuqiang, the Chair of Art Committee of NCPA and the Honorary President of CCOM, handed over the crystal key which symbolized the key for the gate of art education to Comrade Li Lanqing who is the first lecturer of the art education series.
In his lecture, Li Lanqing made an elaborate explanation on music's function in daily life and how music influences everyone's personal life from many aspects, such as why he wants to recommend classical music, what is the charm of classical music, how to cultivate the interests in classical music, and how to guide more youths to step into the gate of classical music, etc. He states, "As a college student, he/she should have the ability and accomplishment to appreciate classical music. It is not enough for them to play and enjoy popular music only." In the end, he sends a message to young college students: "The charm of music is to make the study more efficient, the thought more creative, the leadership more artistic, the daily life more joyful, and the life more profound."
According to the contents of Li Lanqing's lecture, the Youth Symphony Orchestra and Youth Choir of CCOM, conducted by alumni of CCOM and well-known conductor Chen Zuohuang, played excerpts from Song of Nostalgia by Ma Sicong (violin solo: professor Xue Wei), The Moon Reflected In Er-qua (er-hu solo: professor Yan Jiemin), Symphony No. 40 in G minor by Mozart, Symphony No. 5 "Fate" by Beethoven, etc. The lecture combining with live performance devoted stereoscopic music experiences to the audiences. When the baritone vocalist Wang Haitao was singing How to Make Me not Thinking of You, Comrade Li Lanqing joined his singing impromptu. When the orchestra was playing the second movement of Symphony No.9 by Dvorak, Mr. Li also naturally sang the English lyrics following the melody of Going Home [The Song of Hiawa]. His touching voice and music deeply infected the audiences and evoked warm applauses from the audiences. By the end of the lecture, the Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Choir performed the forth movement "Ode To Joy" of Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, On The Beautiful Blue Danube by Johann Strauss Jr. and Radetzky March by Johann Strauss Sr.
The series lecture of "Opening the Gate of Art Education" is part of the art popularizing projects since the National Center for the Performing Arts has been opened. It is reported that NCPA will collaborate with Central Conservatory of Music and other first rank art conservatories in China to organize series brilliant activities attaching to art popularizing projects. The goal of the art popularizing projects is making art close to the ordinary people and rich their daily life.
