Yu Long does not deny that he has a somewhat open-minded temperament. He reflected on himself: "If I have any advantages as a person, or the biggest advantage, it is authenticity."
Yu Long Liu Hui (photo)
Many people say that Yu Long gives people a sense of oppression. The sense of oppression arises from the powerful aura inherent in nature and the extraordinary strength achieved later in life - isn't a symphony orchestra the galloping force of "thousands of troops"? Yu Long "raises his whip", or there are strong winds and rain, or beads fall on the jade plate.
met Long Yu on the stage at the closing concert of the 2024 Shanghai Summer Music Festival (misa). It was past 12:30 noon, much later than the staff who were watching the rehearsal on the monitor predicted. Yu Long is demanding, has a straight face, and is always giving advice. Unexpectedly, the stage ended with a burst of laughter. He finally said: "I said you won't lose your temper after the age of 60, but I still couldn't hold it back." The sense of oppression was diluted by laughter. This July, Yu Long just celebrated his 60th birthday.
In addition to being the music director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Yu Long has many other labels, but the core point is the same: his artistic life has promoted the in-depth development of Chinese classical music. Such a character would probably have some guiding opinions, but Yu Long just reflected on himself: "If I have to say what advantage I have, or the biggest advantage, it is my authenticity."
. Chivalrous
Yo-Yo Ma once vividly described Yu Long - "Yu Long is a general and a poet. He has the height and vision of a general, but also has the feelings of a poet..." Heroism is an inescapable mark on Yu Long. .
Therefore, this season's MISA ends with the concert "Martial Arts" to pay tribute to Jin Yong's century. This should be a little bit of Yu Long's "selfishness". "Mr. Jin Yong, with his unparalleled imagination, creativity, and artistic expression, constructed a world of another dimension." People in the world are happy with their grudges. From the Central Plains to the border, from the grassland to the desert, every scene and every character intertwined weaves a broad view of history, a clear view of right and wrong, "and of course a strong sense of patriotism, he told us in his way The reason why people are human. It can be said that Mr. Yu has deeply influenced me." Yu Long looked through all Jin Yong's novels and ranked them in his mind. "From "The Book of Swords and Enmities" to "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", every one of them. They all have their own expressions. And people will have different feelings at different stages, and they will have some special understandings of a certain part."
Yu Long on the podium
Of course, Yu Long is not alone. It's an imaginary world of swords and swords. He made the connection naturally. Martial arts and art are connected. "Both of these require diligence." If you are not diligent in your studies, you will be left behind. "Only by constantly improving your skills can you achieve enlightenment in a flash. Then, a new world is opened, and then your throat is sealed with a sword."
's expression is very "Yu Long". The musical instrument in your hand is a weapon. It seems that a scene has arrived. It is inexplicably "sealing the throat with a sword", a hero's meeting, or the center of the stage.
For this special concert, Yu Long started planning very early. The so-called professionalism means being prepared for everything in advance and meticulously. "This is the most basic explanation for art." Created by Yu Long and jointly commissioned by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Chengdu Symphony Orchestra and Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, Liang Haoyi's work "Martial Arts - To Commemorate the Centenary of the Birth of Jin Yong" by Liang Haoyi, a young composer born in 1995 "And Work" made its debut at misa. As the notes rise and fall, you can see that a great man is having a great time, and then quietly leaves. But we never really said goodbye. What Mr. Jin Yong left behind will always remain in the world.
The most intuitive expression of heroism is probably to stand upright. Yu Long did not deny that he had some open-minded temperament. For example, when he brings this temperament to the stage, he is full of passion, and the burning heart seems to add a bit of infection to the classics under the baton. For example, when this temper comes into life, he is a bit angry, but he does not lose his temper randomly. If you strive for perfection, you won’t be able to tolerate a grain of sand in your eyes. After losing your temper, it's time to drink and have fun.
Every step in life will not be in vain. Deep and shallow, each footprint connects your trajectory, telling where you come from and where you will go. Yu Long grew up in Shanghai, studied in Berlin, and later lived in Beijing. Three cities, three contexts, seem to conflict with each other, but when placed in Yu Long, it is wonderful.
Between the stage and the meeting, Yu Long took a break. Not long, usually about 20 minutes. The small lounge was fully air-conditioned, and there were hand-made lemon tea and Dong Taixiang's fried pancakes on the table, giving Yu Long a cushion. Semi-fermented dough, crispy bottom, slightly soupy, loose noodles, tight meat, "old-fashioned taste". "Shanghai is my hometown. I was born and raised here. I always enjoy the authentic Shanghainese food." After many years in Germany, Yu Long developed a rigorous logical thinking ability, which is rigorous and meticulous. Returning to the capital, the vastness of the north broadened his mind again. When he returned to China, Yu Long actually had a pretty respectable job in a foreign land. "I just felt that I was willing, so I came back without hesitation. I want to thank this without hesitation, which made me a witness of a great era."
's experience, strength, and courage seem to have been arranged, and it will probably be left to Yu. Long went to complete various subsequent developments. Along the way, Yu Long is the one looking for answers.
Yu Long inscribed a luminous cup to readers of Xinmin Evening News
In the early 1990s, Yu Long returned to China after completing his studies and became the permanent conductor of the Central Opera House. This is an often overlooked starting point. Because we are familiar with him because Yu Long founded the Beijing International Music Festival in 1998 and the China Philharmonic Orchestra in 2000. Born into a musical family in Shanghai, he spent his youth in the artistically rich Berlin. As sharp as Yu Long, he almost immediately sensed the relative blandness of Beijing’s classical music culture at that time, as well as the huge potential and possibilities hidden behind this blandness. On January 1, 1992, Long Yu conducted the first "Beijing New Year Concert" at the Central Opera House. Nowadays, the New Year's Concert has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, but few people know that the 28-year-old young conductor set a precedent in China with his own judgment and decision. Later, it was the landmark city music festival. How many people watched an opera for the first time at the Beijing International Music Festival? How many people heard a world-renowned orchestra for the first time at the Beijing International Music Festival? These first times were all brought about by Yu Long. And at the beginning of all the attempts, could he really predict the shock and promotion he was about to bring to the entire industry? He doesn't make assumptions, he just does it. In his words, "Work is a responsibility." When you reach absolute concentration, all difficulties no longer seem to be a problem. "People should live a simple and pure life." He is responsible for the planning and execution of the performance content, and frequently appears on stage to conduct performances. The nickname "perpetual motion machine" probably came from that time. For Yu Long, this purity means returning to music itself.
Yu Long at the 2019 New Year Concert
He is looking for answers. Every performance, every master lecture, every charity event, how to promote it, how to sell tickets, even how to design posters, how to make program brochures, how to find sponsors... He kept looking for answers. When he answered these questions one by one, the brand of the music festival was polished, and as expected, Yu Long set an industry benchmark. In 2003 and 2009, he took over the leadership of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra respectively, thus becoming the co-leader of the three orchestras in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. People in the
circle admire Yu Long not only for his pioneering work as a manager, but also for his pursuit of excellence as a conductor. He has conducted four of the "Big Five" orchestras in the United States, and he is well versed in the world. What supports him to run all the way? We can probably find the answer from a recent conversation he had with students from the Shanghai Band Academy. He said: "Why can't you strive for the best you can do? If you try, there may be a 50% chance, or maybe a 100% chance." , this is an unknown, but if you don’t try, there is 100% no chance.” 30 years ago, Yu Long tried and achieved the ultimate.
． Pass
60 years old is an age where you can look back on the past. He said that the best time in his life was when he was studying at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Clean, pure, not looking forward or backward, not worrying about gains and losses, this is what youth should be like. What do you want to say to young Yu Long? "Perhaps you would say: Be more serious in class and study more in your studies." Yu Long smiled, "But it's hard to say. It might still be like that if we live another life. It's the true nature of young people." Yu Long understands human nature. of.
He mentioned his true nature several times. But what exactly is authenticity? Everyone’s interpretation is not uniform, because everyone’s origins are different. Yu Long has always been the one being cared for. When talking about Yu Long, his grandfather Ding Shande cannot be avoided. Ding Shande has composed a large number of outstanding works such as "Long March Suite" and is a famous musician and composer in China. He studied music from his grandfather since he was a child. Those professional things were secondary. "Knowing right from wrong and understanding the truth" was the old man's teaching, which also allowed Yu Long to guard his heart.
Yu Long and Grandpa Ding Shande
Later at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, he met Huang Xiaotong, a famous musician educator, and saw the dignity of a teacher. Later, Rubinstein, a teacher and opera conductor at the Higher School of Arts in Berlin, Germany, made him feel another charm of an excellent mentor. Rubinstein guides students to realize on their own, and you can talk or even argue with him to achieve self-growth. Therefore, for Yu Long, it is only natural to support newcomers. The good teachers were like this, and after many years, Yu Long became a person like them. "My teacher did this, and I also want to complete this relay."
Lin Ruifeng is a violinist born in the 2000s. When Yu Long met him for the first time, he asked: "What is your career plan?" His tone was even a little bit... Aggressive. Xiao Lin was younger at that time and did not make such long-term plans. "I remember the director said that nothing is more important than planning for the future, and time waits for no one." Lin Ruifeng always remembered the eagerness in Yu Long's eyes, as if he was his child. Over the years, almost every young person who has dealt with Yu Long will feel the kindness and painstaking efforts of this senior. Encouraging and criticizing, urging and giving tips, he helped them in different ways. "We need to give young people more time and space, as well as enough trust, they are the future."
The opening concert of this season's misa has assembled an all-star lineup of classical music with "Music and Friends", with Yu Long, Yang Yang, and Huang Yi, Sun Yifan, Jin Yukuang, as well as Wang Jian, Qin Liwei, Ning Feng, Zhang Haochen, and Wang Yalun, a total of 10 conductors and soloists from the 1960s to the 2000s, took the stage in succession. New friends and old friends show their talents.
10 conductors and soloists took the stage in succession.
Yu Long lamented that with the efforts of several generations, Chinese classical music is no longer just for self-entertainment. "Music is a connection that connects people's hearts."
Over the past 30 years, Chinese classical music has gained momentum and has been heard by the world. There are more outstanding Chinese musicians and more outstanding Chinese music works. "We have fulfilled many wishes and dreams of the previous generation, and today's younger generations will go further and become our gratification. This is passing on the fire from generation to generation." "Yu Long has always said that he is just a person passing the torch. He is not a starter, nor is he a sprinter towards the finish line. "Every generation has its own mission." He wants to complete his mission without any regrets. "I don't hint or show it. I just follow my heart." This is probably Yu Long's true nature. (Hua Xinyi)
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