Liao Changyong

 

Liao Changyong is one of the best Chinese baritones on the world opera stage today. His pitch-perfect performance has garnered him a bevy of prizes in heavyweight international competitions. Placido Domingo, the world renowned operatic tenor, once lauded Liao by saying "he is the most outstanding baritone I have ever seen."

In 1968, Liao was born into a poor family in a village in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. He did not have easy access to music at that time although he loved singing. It was not until the end of his high school years that one of his teachers discovered his singing talent and introduced him to a teacher in the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. A year of hard work paid off for him as he studied under the teacher. In 1988, Liao was admitted to the Vocal Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. There, Liao learned to sing from the famous vocal professor Zhou Xiaoyan and tenor Luo Wei. In 1995, he graduated as a postgraduate student.

Upon his graduation, Liao participated in a series of international vocal contests and garnered many prizes. From 1996-97, he won the first prize in the 41st French International Toulousc Singing Competition, the Placido Domingo Operalia, and the Queen Sonja International Music Competition. He was the first Asian singer to win first prize at the 1997 Placido Domingo Operalia.

Ever since, Liao has been invited to perform in many other countries, with performances arranged by top troupes like the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. In November 2000, under the baton of Placido Domingo, Liao performed the hero's role in the Verdi opera "Trovatore" in the Kennedy Center in Washington. His performance brought the audience to their feet.

At present, Liao is dean of the vocal department and professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He has an exclusive contract with the Shanghai Grand Theater. He is also a guest singer of the Washington Opera Theater and the Michigan Opera Theater.

By Lency