Chongqing - On March 31st, the Chongqing Symphony Orchestra, led by renowned Chinese conductor Bian Zushan, launched this year's music season with a concert at the Shiguangnan Grand Theater in Chongqing. The concert will include masterpieces such as Austrian composer Hans Rott's Symphony No.1 E Major and the 1st Movement of the Harp Concerto, among others.

Bian Zushan rehearses with Chongqing Symphony Orchestra before the concert. (Photo/Chongqing Symphony Orchestra)

Bian Zushan, who is 87 years old, has achieved remarkable success over more than 70 years of conducting. Despite his age, Bian still insists on being active on stage. He humbly said, "Don't call me a master. I have done what I should do, tried my best, and that's it."

Bian has conducted classical ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, The Red Detachment of Women, and Blessing over the past 60 years.

Bian said, "I have a motto. Music has nothing to do with me. It is music that chose me, and I chose music. Music has changed my life and my personality." He looked back at his journey and recalled his early struggles as a "wild child" who had trouble feeding himself.

Bian has a personal connection to Chongqing. The Yucai School, founded by Mr. Tao Xingzhi, a renowned Chinese educator in Chongqing, helped solve his survival problem when he was 14 years old and formally embarked on the road of music. The director of the music group at that time was Mr. He Luting, a famous Chinese composer of the early 20th century.

To commemorate the 120th anniversary of the birth of the Chinese musician and educator He Luting, the concert will feature two orchestral works by He Luting, Evening Party and Senjidema.

"This concert also includes some of my wishes. I want to thank Chongqing and Mr. Tao Xingzhi. Mr. Tao influenced many people to serve as music teachers," Bian added.

Bian played an essential role in developing symphony orchestras in Chongqing and the entire western region of China. As early as before Chongqing was directly administered, Bian had participated in the New Year's concert in Chongqing. His cooperation with the Chongqing Symphony Orchestra began in 2010.

That year, Bian proposed to launch "Western China Symphony Orchestra Week" and held the first event in Chongqing. As a national art platform still retained by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this was a milestone event in the development of symphonic arts in western China.

"In the entire western region of China, Chongqing is the only municipality directly under the central government, so I thought that the venue should be located in Chongqing," said Bian.

"The Chongqing Symphony Orchestra has always been on my mind, and I have always been concerned about its development. In my opinion, the Chongqing Symphony Orchestra should become a cultural business card for Chongqing. I hope it can go out of Chongqing, go out of the country, and onto the international music stage."

‍‍Bian Zushan rehearses with Chongqing Symphony Orchestra before the concert. (Photo/Chongqing Symphony Orchestra)

Bian Zushan places great importance on developing Chinese symphonic music and believes that only works that truly reflect the voice of the people in this era can be preserved. 

He cites The Yellow River Cantata as an example of such a work, representing the national style and spirit and inspiring people today. He praises this kind of work as a good one that can be preserved and disseminated.

In addition, Bian emphasizes the need for Chinese composers to create original works that meet world-class standards in symphonic music. He hopes to see the day when many such works become reserved pieces for world-class orchestras. This would indicate that China's symphonic music creation level has reached the highest contemporary world standard.

With his visionary approach and dedication to symphonic music, Bian Zushan continues to inspire and guide musicians not only in China but also around the world.