As the smoke of gunpowder dissipates and the hands of history point to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, a legendary tale of iron wings spanning the Pacific is reborn on the stage of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music. On the evenings of October 12th to 14th, the original opera WAY OF A FIGHTER, meticulously crafted by Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, premiered at the Grand Theatre of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music.

 

The original opera WAY OF A FIGHTER panoramically presents the magnificent epic of Chinese and American military personnel and civilians fighting side by side against Japanese fascist aggression from 1937 to 1945. With grand epic strokes, the entire work recreates the legendary stories of the Flying Tigers' heroic combat alongside Chinese military and civilians on the Chinese battlefield.

Epic Narrative: Fierce Loyalty and International Friendship Amidst the Flames of War

 

 

 

The opera WAY OF A FIGHTER opens with the 1958 funeral of General Claire Lee Chennault as its prologue. Through the poignant recollections of war correspondent Anna Chan Chennault, it unfolds the vast historical panorama of 1937-1945 in flashback. Three main narrative threads are interwoven throughout: the aerial combat legends of Chennault and the Flying Tigers; the transnational love between Chennault and Anna Chan Chennault; and the life-and-death solidarity between Chinese military/civilians and their international comrades. This is not merely a war epic, but a supreme ode to humanity. 

The producer of the work, Wang Rui, President of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, explained the original intention behind its creation: "The great Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan opened the Eastern main battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, making tremendous contributions and sacrifices for its victory. This opera uses the borderless language of art to narrate the moving history of Chinese and American military and civilians fighting shoulder to shoulder. It is not only a profound remembrance of the blood-soaked era 80 years ago but also a lofty tribute to the heroes who forged peace with their lives, engraving that transboundary life-and-death camaraderie and internationalist spirit."

 

 World-renowned soprano, Artistic Director of the Opera Academy at ZJCM, and Artistic Director of WAY OF A FIGHTER, Sun Xiuwei, summarized this profound bond with the phrase 'Vow in the Vast Sky'. She believes that Chennault embodied a great love, evident both in his passionate relationship with Anna Chan Chennault and in the deep friendship forged between the Chinese and American peoples during the anti-fascist war. "We hope to use an artistic language that resonates with today's audiences to make history 'come alive', to make young people today believe that this 'Vow in the Vast Sky' about courage, love, and sacrifice is never outdated and can still illuminate our present lives, giving us strength," she said.

 

It is worth mentioning that the opera attracted several distinguished foreign artists, drawn by its moving theme, who gathered for its creation. Italian director Pier Francesco Maestrini expressed admiration: "This is a thrilling story, and it also provided me with a precious opportunity to disseminate Chinese culture and art in Italy. It enlightens us that when people are under attack, the power formed by cooperation and loyalty among allies is crucial. In today's turbulent international relations, this spirit of daring to resist power, demonstrating unity and justice, is particularly valuable."

 Gathering of Masters: Master Craftsmanship by an International First-Class Team

The convergence of internationally first-class artists enabled the realization of the ultimate pursuit in the artistic presentation of WAY OF A FIGHTER. This work brings together top-tier international teams from China, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain, aiming to create an artistic masterpiece that integrates Chinese culture, national spirit, and a global context. It is designed to resonate not only domestically but also to communicate China's stories on international stages, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and highlight China's immense contribution to the World Anti-Fascist War.

 

 

Through the painstaking refinement of the creative team, the classical art form of Western opera has been richly infused with the spiritual core of Chinese history and the lyrical essence of Eastern aesthetics. Consequently, this grand theme transcends simple historical "retelling" and sublimates into an artistic "dialogue" that combines national character with an international perspective, crossing cultural boundaries.

Composer Xu Shuya focused on integrating Chinese and Western elements in the music composition, emphasizing the unity of an international vision and national musical characteristics. During the compositional process, he dedicated effort to shaping the complex personalities and emotional arcs of the characters, strengthening the work's dramatic tension. He employed a modern symphonic language to enhance the music's contemporaneity and international color, while also incorporating Chinese folk music elements, such as the melodic patterns of Yue Opera, which possess distinctive Zhejiang musical characteristics. This enhances cultural identity and emotional resonance, allowing the audience to experience the grandeur of history through art.

 

 

"Compared to Europe's long-standing opera tradition, Chinese opera is still a relatively new art form, making the staging of historical moments rather than fictional stories particularly important." Musically, conductor Andreas Gies expressed admiration for composer Professor Xu Shuya's bold and exquisite exploration. He stated that the opera's musical structure is rich, blending diverse musical styles; it utilizes many modern techniques while also integrating traditional Chinese instruments with Western orchestration, making it a highly distinctive artistic work. "For me, it is also a completely new challenge. As a conductor, although I do not speak Chinese, I am deeply moved by the emotion and spirit within this work."

Swiss Art Director Roumen Krumov was deeply impressed: "Through its rich, nuanced, and deeply passionate arias and scenes, this opera allows us to witness a great transboundary love and a profound friendship born of shared resistance against brutality. Love, patriotism, courage – these themes of eternal value resonate like a bridge connecting two eras, echoing in every note."

  

 

 

On the narrative level, playwright Yu Rongjun broke away from the linear narrative typical of traditional revolutionary historical themes, adopting a montage technique that interweaves time and space. He tightly intertwined real historical events, such as the Battle of Shanghai and the Nanjing Rescue, with the emotional destinies of individuals. During his creative process, through extensive research into historical materials and field investigations, he strove to integrate regional characteristics and genuine emotion into the grand narrative, and to explore the reasons for the Chinese people's ultimate victory in the War of Resistance. He ultimately arrived at the core idea that "in the suffering of war, every ordinary person can become a warrior." For this reason, this work uses the "warrior" as its core image, not deliberately exaggerating heroism, but rather emphasizing their steadfast adherence to light amidst darkness through the growth and choices of ordinary people.

To recreate the grandeur and intensity of war within the confined stage space, set designer Ding Ding and top Spanish multimedia master Juan Guillermo Nova were specially invited to collaborate. Having studied extensive WWII archival footage, they ultimately created a stage presentation with cinematic quality, building historical authenticity through the fusion of reality and illusion.

 

 

 

"The opera features numerous scenes, frequent changes, and multiple concurrent timelines, requiring rapid and efficient transitions," Ding Ding explained. To address this, he installed a set of openable "cloud" flats one-third of the way upstage, dividing the stage space depth-wise. Functionally, this ensured coverage for scene changes upstage during downstage performances. The "opening and closing of the clouds" facilitates instant spatial reorganization, conveying information and emotion, while enhancing artistic appeal and visual spectacle. Combined with cold, stern steel structures symbolizing the cruelty of war and masculine fortitude, alongside multimedia technology creating intense aerial combat effects, the final result is a highly impactful visual presentation.

Character Portrayal: The Shining Light of Individuals in the Historical Firmament

 

 

 

 

The production delves deep into the portrayal of historical figures. Tenor Han Peng, who plays General Claire Lee Chennault, invested tremendous effort into the role. "I understand deeply that this is not merely about playing a historical hero, but about interpreting an epic of cross-border courage, responsibility, and human complexity." He immersed himself in historical materials and footage, studying his subject's gait, speech demeanor, smile, and even "that unique quality in his eyes—a mix of determination, weariness, and persistence," striving to restore a complex individual "with resolve, anxiety, tenderness, and introspection." "Chennault is a tragic hero molded by duty, courage, and immense sacrifice under extreme circumstances. Therefore, in my view, performance isn't about hitting stunning high notes, but about making the audience believe that I am that 'Flying Tiger General' at history's crossroads, bearing a heavy mission yet still choosing to fly for his convictions."

  

 

 

 

In the opera, students from the ZJCM Opera Academy collectively portrayed roles such as Flying Tigers members and Chinese soldiers and civilians, constructing a vast tableau of the "united front" during the War of Resistance. To better shape the military roles, the creative team enlisted military training instructors to coach the student actors on posture, marching steps, and more. Zhu Juncan and Li Yang, who play the pilot Mao Zhihang, expressed: "After learning the real name of the martyr I portray, I began searching online for all information about him, including his brief yet legendary life and the scarce surviving images. Being able to commemorate those warriors who sacrificed themselves in the War of Resistance Against Japan, those heroes who unhesitatingly gave their young lives for the nation, through the medium of opera, moves us profoundly."

A Single Spark Ignites a Prairie Fire: The Passing of the Artistic Torch Through Teacher-Student Collaboration

The rehearsal process for WAY OF A FIGHTER stands as a model of the close integration of teaching and practice at Zhejiang Conservatory of Music. The production crew, drawing its main performing body from the Vocal and Opera Department, Orchestral Music Department, Opera Academy, Choral Academy, Band Academy, and Chamber Orchestra, brought together the institution's artistic strengths, forming a virtuous talent cultivation mechanism characterized by "experienced performers guiding newcomers, with teachers and students sharing the stage."

This performance run consisted of three consecutive shows. Besides faculty members like Han Peng, several outstanding students from the Opera Academy also undertook leading roles. To better embody their characters, these young students dedicated their entire summer break, immersing themselves fully in rehearsals without rest.

 

Wang Sanlin, a student portraying Chennault who resides abroad for much of the year, returned to campus ahead of his peers during the summer specifically to study under Artistic Director Sun Xiuwei. Given the historical distance, he initially knew little about the role and felt somewhat overwhelmed. He gradually grasped the character by consulting biographies and imitating mannerisms observed in historical footage. "Chennault undergoes a shift in mindset, transforming from an 'outsider' to someone who 'also sees himself as Chinese.' Vocally and musically, this requires both 'heroic grandeur' and 'the tenderness within a tough man'," Wang Sanlin stated, adding that he learned a great deal during rehearsals and gained confidence in successfully shaping the image of the 'Flying Tiger General'.

 

 

  The portrayal of Anna Chan Chennault showcases the resilience and growth of women amidst warfare, her gentle femininity adding a distinct hue to the opera's prevailing masculine vigor. The role was shared by Fang Xianglei, a teacher from the Vocal and Opera Department, and two Opera Academy students, Jin Fanya and Duoliya. Fang Xianglei focused on the internal logic and authentic essence of the character's emotions: "By delving deeply into the inner world, clarifying the internal logic, and then using that inner understanding to stimulate external expression through voice and body." Jin Fanya continuously probed deeper into the character's psyche during rehearsals, refining every detail of her performance. Duoliya, just beginning her second undergraduate year, focused more on finding common ground between herself and Anna Chan Chennault. "Anna Chan Chennault was 20 years old when she became a reporter, the same age as me." This was her first opera role, and she grew rapidly under the "hands-on" guidance of her teachers. "The teachers' performances struck directly at the heart, allowing me to truly appreciate the charm of an opera performer and gain a completely new understanding of opera acting."

  

Furthermore, the war correspondents portrayed by Li Nan, Zhao Kohan, and others in this opera were equally impressive; their precise interpretations served as vital links driving the plot forward. The opera's choral sections were undertaken by students from the Choral Academy, who contributed harmonies ranging from majestic and powerful to deeply tender and nuanced, significantly enhancing the dramatic impact and artistic tension. The orchestra was composed of teachers and students from the Band Academy, Orchestra Department, and Chamber Orchestra. Within just one month, they quickly developed a rapport with conductor Andreas Gies. Through intensive rehearsals and precise coordination, they ultimately delivered a compelling orchestral performance, laying a solid and moving musical foundation for the entire opera.

Director Maestrini, who has collaborated with ZJCM multiple times, witnessed the students' progress firsthand: "Since I began working with ZJCM students in 2023, I have seen them grow from small roles to leading parts, continually building confidence and honing their skills. The Opera Academy creates precious teaching opportunities through successive productions, teaching students not only how to stand on stage but how to 'live' on it." Conductor Andreas Gies also noted with satisfaction that the previous collaboration on Turandot last year laid a solid foundation for these rehearsals, and the students' professional standards continue to rise. "I feel a deep sense of pride seeing how much professional knowledge they have absorbed and mastered while rehearsing with us." Sun Xiuwei added emotionally: "I want to express my gratitude to the entire creative team, all the actors, and musicians: Thank you for your talent and dedication. It is you who have given WAY OF A FIGHTER the power to move the world."

 

The opera WAY OF A FIGHTER not only integrates historical depth, artistic height, and contemporary relevance but also, through its unique artistic language, constructs a spiritual bridge connecting history and the present. Through its stage presentation, it allows the Spirit of the War of Resistance to radiate with new brilliance in the hearts of contemporary audiences. As Wang Rui stated, this opera holds special relevance in the current era. It is hoped that through the borderless language of art, this legacy of courage, sacrifice, and mutual support will be passed on, allowing today's audiences to profoundly understand the weight and grandeur of history, to cherish the present peace more dearly, and to join hands in creating a brighter future. "May this opera become a bridge, connecting history and reality, transmitting eternal memory and hope." Let us, in this artistic feast spanning time and space, amidst the magnificent music and moving story, feel that undying loyalty, courage, and great love for humanity, and sing the eternal song of peace and friendship.