Original opera set to go from rehearsals to stage

In Beijing's China Conservatory of Music's rehearsal hall on Wednesday, the grand sweep of the symphony intertwined with the clear, resonant vocals as the full ensemble of the Chinese opera Cradle intensely prepared.

As the conservatory's first original opera, rehearsals for Cradle are now in the final countdown, with every note meticulously refined ahead of its official premiere at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on May 23 and 24.

Set against the backdrop of the 1928 revolutionary struggles in Jinggangshan, Jiangxi province, the opera reimagines the heroic efforts of early revolutionaries to defend Jinggangshan, known as "the cradle of the Chinese revolution".

Li Xincao, president of the China Conservatory of Music and the opera's artistic director and conductor, led rehearsals alongside the principal cast, student choir, and the conservatory's symphony orchestra.

Actors brought to life key arias. Particularly striking is March to Victory, a choral piece for Red Army soldiers with a solo by Zhang Yongqing, whose sweeping melodies powerfully conveyed the soldiers' indomitable spirit and triumphant exhilaration.

Throughout rehearsals, Li guided vocalists in shaping their characters while also providing precise orchestral direction, ensuring integration among the roles, the choir and the symphony. The blended choral and orchestral textures were meticulously crafted.

Composer Hu Tingjiang expanded existing musical motifs into symphonic arrangements — for instance, the melody element of Red Rice and Pumpkin Soup was newly arranged for a mixed choir to be performed by Red Army characters. Local tonal flavors from Jinggangshan were woven subtly into different scenes and character motifs, offering fresh interpretations rather than raw folk renditions.

Hu infused the music with a broad, grand quality, while also creating dramatic tension through vivid, theatrical compositions. Audiences at the rehearsals experienced a rich spectrum of musical moods, from tender lyrical passages to powerful, soaring melodies.

The opera's cast includes Han Peng, Wang Chong, and Kou Jing performing alongside the China Conservatory of Music choir and symphony orchestra.