Just want to be a good person and sing good songs, Shanghai's "Most Beautiful Retired Soldier" Ao Changsheng: 25 Years of Art Audience | Ao Changsheng | Shanghai
A few days ago, military singer Ao Changsheng was awarded the "Most Beautiful Retired Soldier" in Shanghai for 2023. After 25 years of art, from the mountains of Shehong in Sichuan to the National Youth Singer Competition of CCTV, and then to the hearts of many viewers across the country, Ao Changsheng has only one goal: to be a good person, sing good songs, and always sing for the people.
On August 20th, Ao Changsheng's "25th Anniversary of Performing Arts: A New Era of Singing" solo concert will be held at the Daning Theater on the "Night of Giving Up". He said, "Although I have taken off my military uniform now, my military spirit remains unchanged. As long as there is a need for the military, my hometown, and the audience, I will not hesitate to sing for everyone."
Military singer Ao Changsheng.
"His songs are down-to-earth and popular among the people."
Ao Changsheng, who emerged from the mountains, studied at Sichuan Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Conservatory of Music. At the 34th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival in 2017, Ao Changsheng held the first solo concert of "Chang Ge Sheng Sheng Sheng Sheng". This time, he selected red classics such as "Blessing the Motherland" and "My Motherland", Eastern folk songs such as "Jasmine Flower" and "Yue People's Song", songs he sang first such as "56 Nationalities, One China" and "Shaanbei Children", as well as his own songs such as "Love You for a Lifetime".
"Ao Changsheng has a bright voice, pure sound quality, wide range, and flowing breath. His most distinctive feature is his ability to freely retract and release in high music segments," said Zhong Yi, a conductor from Hong Kong, China. He has known Ao Changsheng for 8 years and has collaborated on multiple performances. Almost every collaborative performance, the audience would call Ao Changsheng back, with a maximum of 8 performances. "His songs are very down-to-earth and loved by the people," he said
Ding Zhongyi will assist in this concert, and the Shanghai City Wind Orchestra and Shanghai City Choir will also present well-known Chinese and foreign works on stage in the form of symphonic wind and vocal multi parts.
At the concert, there was a song called "Cangyang Jiacuo", with lyrics from a financially struggling lyricist in Nanchong, Sichuan. "In May, I specifically went to Nanchong once, and when I sang the lyrics he wrote into a song, his tears fell."
Give back kindness through singing
Ao Changsheng is the youngest child in the family, with three older sisters and one older brother. When he was a child, he often didn't have shoes to wear and often wore winter clothes in summer.
After graduating from junior high school, he received an admission letter for the music class at Shehong Taihe High School, but the 310 yuan tuition fee caused difficulties for the whole family. His parents only raised 280 yuan through various means. Unexpectedly, an old man from the village had just finished selling ropes at the market and returned home. Upon learning about this, he gave them the only 30 yuan he had on him. "If it weren't for this gentleman, there wouldn't be me today."
The kindness of his hometown people planted seeds in Ao Changsheng's heart: "I have received too much love and care from people on my career path, so I have a greater obligation to devote myself to public welfare and give back everyone's love." He holds more than 200 condolence performances every year, including construction sites, schools for children of migrant workers, factories, nursing homes, and orphanages, sometimes even running five times a day without taking a penny.
He has also accompanied the Shanghai Aid to Xinjiang Command to perform in the Kashgar region multiple times, offering singing courses to local school teachers and students; Provide free training courses for impoverished high school students in Beichuan, helping them successfully pass the entrance exam to the Conservatory of Music. "When I came to a remote place and was recognized by everyone, I felt particularly proud; when I stood on stage and sang for the people and lovely comrades, all the hard work was worth it."
