Winland Christmas Gala Concerts
2016The Glory and The Dream
—— A voyage of American opera
In the musical garden of the world, American music can be said to be a magnificent young sprouting shoot. After crossing the seas and arriving at the ‘New World’, traditional hymns sung by European migrants served as fertile soil for the emergence of American music. Music from different ethnic communities such as the indigenous people, the African, Hispanic and Asian diaspora all provided it with nourishment.
The first half of the 19th century saw the emergence of independent, professional musicianship in the U.S., of which opera and musicals were extended branches. From the start of the 20th century up to the present, New York’s Metropolitan Opera and Broadway district became the new centers of the world’s opera and musical scene. The creation of American contemporary opera and musicals became an awe-inspiring success story.
On December 13, 2016, conductor Ryan McAdams, soprano Mélanie Boisvert, tenor Erin Caves, baritone Robin Adams and the China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra and its chorus treated the distinguished guests in attendance to a rendition of Leonard Bernstein’s American Operettas Candide and West Side Story, as well as composer Aaron Copland’s orchestral suite Appalachian Spring.
It was with great pleasure that I learned from Mr. Adam Yu that the theme of this year's Winland Christmas Gala Concert would be The Glory and the Dream, a voyage of American music dedicated to the United States. Just a few weeks ago, we in the United States elected our next President, so this occasion offers us an opportunity to both look back at the development of U.S.-China friendship, and to look forward at how we will work together to address the challenges the world faces in the twenty-first century. Every year since 2006, Winland has showcased opera from various European countries. While each European country can boast its own history and tradition of opera, the United States has its own rich music traditions. While many people around the world are aware of America's musical contributions, such as jazz, blues, bluegrass, rock-and-roll, and Broadway, perhaps far fewer are familiar with American opera. This evening's program features selections from such notable American composer as Leonard Bernstein. One piece in particular will let us look back and look forward at the same time: John Adams' Nixon in China. This is obviously a modern work, and it has received critical acclaim as a lasting contribution to American opera. Given that we will have descendants of Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou in the audience, as well as people who may have been involved in that historic visit, the debut of this work in China is particularly significant. Of course the United States has always been a country that prefers to look forward, and these selections embody the American ideals of hope, courage, and creativity. Especially West Side Story, meanwhile, brings to life America's history as a nation of immigrants, and the triumph of the spirit over obstacles. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Adam Yu, not only for his insightful selection of music from the United States for this evening's program and for inviting me to take part, but also for continuing to use music as a way to build bridges among people.
── Max Baucus
Ambassador of the United States of America
