"Is that Wang Yueheng?"
"Master is amazing. He even managed to find Wang Yueheng to cooperate with."
"It's said that Meng Yujia took the initiative to send the invitation..."
"I would be so happy to perform on stage with Wang Yueheng..."
The first floor of the Chinese Opera Association building is the rehearsal hall for songs and dances.
Wang Yueheng himself then appeared.
The young actors who were rehearsing a puppet show here instantly became excited.
These puppeteers all came from Quanzhou with Bai Haisheng to participate in the Qixi Festival opera gala.
Their original performance plan was simply to perform a traditional puppet show on stage.
I never expected to suddenly collaborate with Wang Yueheng.
"This is... the song you revised?"
"This is a piece perfectly tailor-made for our puppet shows!"
Bai Haisheng and the others were astonished as they looked at the new sheet music in their hands.
The piece Wang Yueheng brought this time, specially created for Quanzhou puppet show, is titled "Puppet Show".
It is also a pop song that blends modern singing techniques with traditional opera singing styles.
This shocked Bai Haisheng, Feng Gong, and others.
This song is not just another example of how traditional Chinese opera and pop music are blended together.
It's the lyrics of this song.
It beautifully and movingly depicts the life of a puppeteer.
It tells the story of a puppeteer and the puppet he has been entangled with all his life, and their companionship and separation.
Just look at the song title, "Puppet Show".
This easily evokes the traditional art of marionettes.
Unless one has a specific and in-depth understanding of Chinese puppetry.
It's simply impossible to write such a poignant and realistic opera story!
It's hard to believe.
Wang Yueheng only spent one day on it.
That's how I wrote a song that fits the theme of puppetry.
"Did you make up the story in this play on the spot, or is it based on real historical events?"
Jiang Zhongli, who was recommended by Wang Yueheng, put down the sheet music in his hand and asked Wang Yueheng.
Even as a leading figure in the world of traditional opera, Jiang Zhongli was somewhat confused at this moment.
Is Wang Yueheng's poem "Puppet Show" based on a true historical story?
It is still an independently created fictional story.
"There is both reality and illusion, and the two are combined."
"When I was writing the lyrics for this song, I was inspired by some historical records related to puppet shows in the Song Dynasty."
"But from the lyrics to the arrangement, everything is my own original work."
Wang Yueheng was prepared for this and replied with a smile.
After all, there are ancient cultural records related to puppet shows in the history of this world.
If one claims to have created something entirely out of thin air without consulting any of these ancient sources.
On the contrary, it will attract doubts from Jiang Zhongli and others.
"He truly deserves to be called a genius singer-songwriter."
"To create such an excellent work in just one day, combining studying and songwriting."
"At least I myself have been drawn to the lyrics of your song."
Director Feng Gong held the sheet music with great affection, praising and marveling at it repeatedly.
He is an outstanding actor who has appeared on the Spring Festival Gala several times.
Feng Gong himself has witnessed the birth of many extraordinary talents.
But singers like Wang Yueheng are known for producing phenomenal works from the outset.
This was the first time he had ever encountered something like this in his life.
If someone else were to write this song...
It's doubtful that even in ten days, they could produce a song that perfectly tells the story of a puppet show.
If this song is sung well, it can rekindle the popularity of traditional puppetry.
As the intermediary, I naturally felt quite proud.
The Chinese Quyi Artists Association will also gain even more glory because of Wang Yueheng's song!
"How about I sing the song here first?"
"Then we'll consider how to choreograph a puppet show based on the song?"
Seeing that the senior musicians were still holding the sheet music in a daze, Wang Yueheng took the initiative to make a suggestion.
The song is now finished.
However, how to integrate it with the performances of Bai Haisheng's puppet show troupe remains a problem.
Yes! Yes!
"We're going to officially perform on stage tonight, so we don't have much time and need to hurry up and rehearse!"
Hearing Wang Yueheng's reminder.
Bai Haisheng, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of puppetry, finally snapped out of his reverie about the song.
After all, this was their first attempt to combine puppetry with modern pop music in a performance.
How to perform a song by Wang Yueheng.
The next challenge is to perfectly convey the meaning and imagery of the song through a puppet show.
If Wang Yueheng makes his songs popular.
If the puppet show performance fails to keep up and isn't engaging enough, it will still be a failed performance.
"You guys, come here for a second!"
"Put all your cell phones and any devices that can record audio or video on this table!"
"After today's rehearsal, no one is allowed to reveal even a single melody of this song!"
However, before the official rehearsal began.
Bai Haisheng first solemnly made demands of his apprentices.
He was afraid that one of his apprentices might prematurely reveal Wang Yueheng's new song because of his desire to show off.
This significantly diminished the performance quality of the opera gala.
"Clatter"
"Clatter"
I heard the master's request.
Several puppeteers hurriedly took out their mobile phones.
They were all turned off and placed on the table, then collected by Meng Yujia.
This was also the first time they had seen their master so serious.
In previous rehearsals and performances, there was never any confiscation of mobile phones.
Even to promote puppetry.
They will also encourage everyone to take more behind-the-scenes photos and post them online.
Bai Haisheng's move also surprised Wang Yueheng.
This song was already copyrighted, so there's no fear of it being stolen or leaked.
I didn't expect Bai Haisheng to be so cautious.
It seems that the other party also attaches great importance to this cooperation, fearing that some mistakes may occur.
Once everything is ready.
Wang Yueheng then stood in front of everyone and first sang the newly written song a cappella.
Let all the actors understand the emotions and meanings of the songs in "Puppet Show".
I was listening to music.
The puppeteers' expressions gradually became blank.
I gradually became immersed in the story of the puppeteer depicted in the song.
A surge of emotions welled up inside me.
"It feels so much more moving than listening to the songs on TV or live broadcasts!"
"Her a cappella singing skills are amazing! It's simply a divine voice!"
"I can't take it anymore, let me wipe my tears first..."
I listened to Wang Yueheng sing a song a cappella on site.
Tears welled up in the eyes of several puppeteers.
The images described in the lyrics involuntarily appeared in my mind.
Especially when Wang Yueheng sang in a cross-dressing opera style.
Several puppeteers even clenched their fists in excitement, wishing they could wave their puppets and make them dance along with the storyline.
"Clap clap clap~"
After singing it briefly once.
Led by Feng Gong and others, everyone in the rehearsal hall applauded enthusiastically.
They could almost see it: Wang Yueheng leading everyone in a performance of this song on stage tonight.
The audience and countless people watching on television were captivated and moved by the song and the puppet show.
At that time.
I believe that whether you are a fan of Wang Yueheng or an audience member who has never heard of puppetry, you will understand.
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