The performance at the Poly Theatre in Beijing marks the first time the fledgling orchestra interprets a major classical choral work. 110 singers hailing from choruses of the China National Symphony Orchestra and the China National Opera Theatre will join them.

Yu Long, the philharmonic orchestra's artistic director who said he most admires classical opera and vocal works, will helm this effort.

Verdi wrote 28 operas, most of which are still performed regularly in the world's opera houses. Titles like "Rigolletto," "La Traviata," "Aida," "Othello," and "Falstaff" are some of his greatest successes.

"Verdi's `Requiem Mass' is the cream of his best operatic works," Yu Long said. "It is special, very dramatic. It offers an emotional and artistic experience that goes beyond religion."

Yu Long is now busy rehearsing the four lead singers, soprano Fu Haiyan, mezzo-soprano Yang Jie, tenor Wei Song and bass Gong Dongjian.

"These four are among the best operatic leads in China today," said Zhou You, the philharmonic's media director.

Fu Haiyan, a soprano soloist with National Opera Theatre, rose to prominence in 1979 when she took up the lead in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Since then she has cooperated with several top orchestras in China as lead vocalist, singing in Mahler's symphonies No 2 and No 4, Beethoven's Choral Fantasia, Nielson's Symphony's No 3 as well as in Mozart's and Verdi's Requiems.

Yang Jie, too, has had a distinguished career. Graduating in 1983 from the vocal department of the Central Conservatory of Music, the singer took second place in the Second Schubert International Vocal Competition in Japan in 1988.

Over the years, Yang has performed in Bizet's "Carmen," Verdi's "Rigolletto," Gounod's "Faust" and Mozart's "Magic Flute," and performed across Europe and Asia.

Wei Song, now director of the opera troupe of the Shanghai Opera Theatre, started his formal vocal training in 1972 and received instructions from leading vocal professors in Shanghai and Beijing. Since 1986, Wei has won several laurels in national vocal competitions. He has also taken up lead roles in "Tosca," "Turandot," "Carmen," "La Traviata," and several other classical Western and modern Chinese operas.

Gong Dongjian, the fourth of the quartet, is one of the most active Chinese singers on the world stage today. During the 1999-2000 performing season, he performed roles in the New York Metropolitan Theatre's production of "La Boheme" and in the Memphis Opera Theatre's production of "Norma." His roles in recent years have included parts in "Aida," "Nabucco," "Don Carlo," "Rigolletto," "Turandot" and other opera shows with opera theatres on three continents.

For Yu Long, directing the China Philharmonic Orchestra through Verdi's "Requiem Mass" constitutes an important part in intensifying the training of the new orchestra now that the Spring Festival break is over. There is much work to be done, as the orchestra will give at least three major concerts a month in March, April and June.

The orchestra also has tentatively worked out its programming for its first concert season, which will begin in September.

The programmes include a wide variety of classical Western music styles. Guest conductors from different countries will take the podium to direct the orchestra.

"All these training aim to help the orchestra mature and learn to adapt to different conductors and styles of music," Zhou said.

(China Daily 02/15/2001)