"On Wings of Song" with soprano Zou Dehua, fundraising for flood relief (1981)

"On Wings of Song" - A Concert

(The following article is taken from NACA Newsletter, No. 3, March 15, 1982)

A fundraising concert entitled "On Wings of Song" was planned for December 6, 1981. A record snow storm on that day postponed the concert to the following Thursday, December 10. It was a recital by the well-known Chinese soprano Zou Dehua, who had to make a second trip to Boston from New York due to the postponement.

Ms. Zou studied at the Juliard Conservatory of Music majoring in opera performing arts. She returned to China in 1950, and joined the Central Opera Institute in Beijing. She has since developed a style which is a synthesis of the Western and traditional Chinese vocal techniques, and which has won her wide acclaims from audiences both inside and outside of China. As an opera performer, she has mastered a wide range of skills in portraying such diverse roles as Violetta in La triviata and as Te-mei in Hong Deng Ji. Ms. Zou returned to Juliard last December as a visiting scholar, and had appeared in numerous concerts in the United States.

Judging from the turn out at the concert, it must be considered a great success. Audience filled the auditorium of the J. Clark Junior High School in Lexington, where it was held, to capacity. Ms. Zou sang 17 songs including famous fold songs and arts songs from China and other nations. Among the Chinese songs was one called Mai Bu Yao, composed by the famous linguist, Prof. Chao, who was in the audience. At a spur of enthusiasm, Prof. Chao rose from the audience and sang a version of his song in the native dialect of Wuxi, for which the song was probably intended. The concert was accompanied by Ms. Lin Ailing who also played two solo peices at the concert.