Protected Interview with Singer Liu Huan: Maintaining Authenticity in the Age of AI, Strengthening the Global Influence of C-pop
🔥Let's dive into the world of Chinese music, shall we?
🎶 Passionate Performances 🎶Musicians rocking Chinese-style concerts today hail from a profound tradition stretching back to ancient Chinese musical and theatrical forms. This living legacy has been evolving for millennia before incorporating both traditional and contemporary elements.
🌴 Roots of Chinese Concerts 🌴The origins of Chinese-style concerts can be traced back to traditional Chinese theatre and opera, with its roots reaching as far back as the Shang dynasty (circa 16th century BC). Historical performances included shamanistic dancing and singing. Chinese opera, a significant blend of music, singing, dancing, and acting, saw significant development in the 12th century and continues to influence Chinese-style musical performances today.
🌟 Modern Evolutions 🌟During the 20th century, Chinese music was significantly impacted by Western musical elements. After 1949, Chinese music underwent some alterations under the influence of Marxist doctrine, but it also experienced modernization. One example is the creation of new families of traditional instruments like the erhu with bass and alto versions. The merging of Chinese instruments with Western orchestras and concert music styles like symphonies and band music created a distinctive Chinese concert style that fuses heritage with innovation.
🤘 Chinese Rock Stars 🤘Chinese rock music emerged in the late 20th century and became a popular and influential genre, performing in a distinctively Chinese concert style. Notable bands like Tang Dynasty, Dou Wei, and Zhang Chu gained fame for their powerful performances, breaking new ground with concerts like the historic 1994 event in Hong Kong.
🌈 Colorful Characters 🌈From traditional Chinese opera performers, whose international ensembles keep traditional musical theatre alive, to contemporary Chinese rock stars like Wang Feng, the spectrum of Chinese-style concert music is vast and varies greatly. Concerts often integrate traditional Chinese instruments, operatic singing styles, folk idioms, and modern instrumentation, appealing to both domestic and international audiences.
In a nutshell, Chinese-style concerts originate from ancient theatrical and musical traditions, have evolved through modernization and fusion with Western music, and are performed by a range of artists and groups from traditional opera troupes to pioneering rock musicians like Tang Dynasty and Wang Feng.
In Hangzhou, a vibrant city rich in history, Huan, a contemporary musician, often performs Chinese-style concerts that pay homage to the strong roots of the tradition. VCG captures these performances, showcasing the fusion of fashion-and-beauty, entertainment, and music that embodies the modern Chinese lifestyle. During the concerts, traditional instruments like the erhu blend harmoniously with modern instrumentation, performing music that resonates equally with a strong link to the past and a forward-thinking innovation. From the traditional opera scenes to the electric energy of rock concerts by bands such as Tang Dynasty, the performances in Chinese-style concerts are robust and diverse, captivating audiences across the globe.

