With concertmaster Li Baoshun presenting the canonical erhu concerto Red Plum Capriccio by Wu Houyuan, the orchestra pays a homage to an all-time classic. On the choice of repertoire, Li notes that although this piece is a familiar favourite with Chinese music aficionados, it is not often performed here in Singapore. The enduring appeal of this erhu classic is no doubt due to its succinctness in thematic material, beautiful melody, its range of emotional expression, and intense musical contrasts. Moreover, the concerto encapsulates a wide variety of influences from various Chinese folk-art genres, as well as a variety of erhu techniques, thereby remaining sophisticated in its artistry while garnering enduring popular appeal through the decades.
(from Affinity concert programme notes by Jon Lin Chua)
Q: What character or emotions does the piece "Red Plum Capriccio" convey?
Li Baoshun: "Red Plum Capriccio" is an erhu concerto written by renowned composer Wu Houyuan in 1980. It is based on the theme song “Praise of Red Plum" from the opera "Sister Jiang", reimagined and recreated. The piece expresses the appreciation for the noble virtue and optimistic spirit of the red plum, mirroring the qualities and spirits of the character “Sister Jiang”.
Q: When was your first encounter with this composition, and what were your initial impressions?
Li Baoshun: I first encountered this piece in 1981. At that time, it was one of the outstanding compositions for the erhu. Technically challenging yet imaginative, the pieces encompasses a wide spectrum of musical expressions—delicate, gentle, tragic and passionate.
Q: Was there a specific reason for choosing "Red Plum Capriccio"?
Li Baoshun: The decision to perform "Red Plum Capriccio" lies with its beautiful melodies and the fact that it's a classic erhu composition which many people are familiar with. Additionally, it also aligns with our season’s concept to pay tribute to classics, thus giving back to our audience.
与李宝顺畅谈乐曲《红梅随想曲》
乐团首席李宝顺这次呈献吴厚元先生的著名二胡协奏曲《红梅随想曲》，致敬经典。在选曲方面，李老师指出这首协奏曲虽然耳熟能详，但在本土演出的次数不多。即便如此，这首曲子能够如此深入人心，也是因为其主题素材精简，旋律优美动听，内心世界表达细腻而又充满热情，音乐冲突、对比强烈。此外，此曲也融合了民歌、说唱，地方剧及戏曲等诸多音乐元素，并开拓了演奏技法，因此成为了一首雅俗共赏的经典。
文 / 蔡宗玲
Q: 这个乐曲表达了怎么样的情感或塑造了什么样的人物形象？
李宝顺:《红梅随想曲》是著名作曲家吴厚元于1980年为二胡与乐队所写一首协奏曲，是以歌剧＂江姐＂主题曲＂红梅赞＂及部分旋律等音乐片段为素材，重新构思创作而成的。作品借着对梅花的描写、赞颂，来描述江姐等人物的性格、情操。
Q: 第一次接触这首曲是什么时候、最初的感受是什么？
李宝顺: 我在1981年初次接触的这个作品。在当时也是二胡的创作作品里优秀作品之一。技术上非常具有挑战性，有创新；音乐的幅度也非常大，细腻、温柔、悲壮、充满激情！
Q: 选择《红梅随想曲》有什么特别的原因吗？
李宝顺: 之所以选择这首作品是因为它非常好听，是二胡的经典创作作品，很多人熟悉它，同时也是我们乐团＂致敬经典＂的一部份，回馈我们的广大观众！