Li Xudan: How to repay the audience's love
"Dedicate a piece of red heart to everyone." This is how Li Xudan explained the album title. On June 29, the CD and vinyl release conference of Li Xudan, an outstanding young actor of Shanghai Yue Opera Theater and heir of Wang School, for his latest Yue Opera album "Red Heart Song" was held at Wanping Theater.
"Dan·Heart Song" is directed by Yue Opera master Wang Zhiping and vocal music educator Ji Xiaoling. It includes classic Wang style songs sung by Li Xudan, such as "Dream of Red Mansions", "The Story of Chunxiang", "Meng Lijun", "Chasing Fish", "Xiyuanji", "Emperor and Village Girl", etc. It also includes the original and newly adapted works starring Li Xudan, such as "Empresses in the Palace", "New Life", "Lilac" and other wonderful songs. "The singing system of Wang style master Wang Wenjuan is rich and colorful, with the well-known euphemistic lyrical style, as well as strength and rhythm." Li Xudan said, "Some relatively unpopular songs are added to the album to expand the audience's understanding of Wang style."
The recording of "Dan·Heart Song" coincided with the national tour of Shanghai Yue Opera Theater. The busy Li Xudan spent the New Year in the recording studio. The recording studio amplified all the subtle sounds, which gave Li Xudan a new understanding of true and false voices, high and low pitch conversion. "Only by carefully controlling the vocal cords and overcoming one's own inertia can one have a good voice." She thought of the mirror given by her teacher Wang Zhiping, "I have been practicing lip shape and lip and tooth pronunciation in front of the mirror."
Starting from winning the Lin Daiyu group championship in Beijing TV's "Dream of Red Mansions" national audition, and winning the Best Newcomer Award and Outstanding Actor Award in the first "The Battle of Yue Opera Girls" Yue Opera Young Actors TV Challenge, Li Xudan has successively held personal shows "Girl Show" and "Love Song", performed "Chasing Fish and Watching Lanterns" on CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 2018, and performed "Butterfly Lovers: Eighteen Farewells" on CCTV New Year Opera Gala and "Hundred Flowers Welcome the Spring" Chinese Literature and Art Circles Spring Festival Gala in 2022.
At the beginning of her career, Li Xudan preferred performing, and once thought that learning the melody meant mastering the singing style. The guidance of her teachers and stage practice made her realize the importance of singing. Recording "Dan·Heart Song" gave Li Xudan the opportunity to re-examine the singing style of the Wang School. "From the singing style design of the masters, the singing styles of the teachers, to the changes and development of the repertoire of our new play, and the shaping space of the sound range, it made me think and learn. The vast repertoire of the Wang School comes from the accumulated performances, which have been tempered and glittering like gold. We will first inherit it solidly, and then slowly find our own style."
"Even if the artists who inherit the school are 80 years old and their voices are not as good as before, as long as they stand on the stage, everyone will love them. This is the school, this is upholding the orthodoxy." Wu Wei, director of Shanghai Yue Opera House, said, "Shanghai Yue Opera House must uphold the orthodoxy, adhere to the characteristics of the school, adhere to traditional aesthetics, and promote innovation to 'preserve' more firmly and for a longer time."
When artistic director Ji Xiaoling met Li Xudan, "she was still a child under 20 years old, and she had always insisted on vocal training, every week without fail. The performance of "Dan·Heart Song" is very good, which comes from Dandan's hard work and practice." Yue Opera master Qian Huili said that Li Xudan's singing has made great progress in recent years, which is due to continuous precipitation and accumulation. "Dan·Heart Song" records the experience of artistic growth, including growth in life.
The cover of the vinyl record of "Dan·Heart Song" features the image of Lin Daiyu, played by Li Xudan in the classic Yue Opera play "A Dream of Red Mansions·Burial of Flowers", and was painted by the Chinese painting master Dai Dunbang based on Li Xudan's stills. On the elegant beige background, petals are falling in all directions, and Li Xudan is holding a flower hoe with fluttering sleeves. The painting style is delicate and graceful. The calligraphy inscription on the record is from the master Chen Peiqiu. The combination of calligraphy and painting creates a fresh, elegant, and tranquil lady temperament.
"Dandan is so lucky to have left her beautiful voice behind." In the eyes of teacher Wang Zhiping, Li Xudan is a particularly attentive student. Wang Zhiping often encourages Li Xudan with the words, "Don't slack off, and don't let down the old master at any time. As long as you make an effort, all your efforts will be seen."
Li Xudan has his own fan club, and audiences from all over the country came from Shanghai to attend the press conference. Wang Zhiping encouraged Li Xudan not to be arrogant or impatient, "You will encounter all kinds of things in the process of growing up, you must be patient, endure loneliness, cherish the love of all the audience for you, and be able to withstand praise, so that you can grow faster."
