On October 25, 1950, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army fought its first battle abroad. Today, 71 years later, in preparation for the performance of the 4th China Opera Festival, the national opera True Love Knot (concert version), with the theme of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, underwent a composite rehearsal at the Grand Theater of Chengdu ASEAN Art Center. Qiao Peijuan, the well-known Specialized Technical Major General of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, the former Political Commissar of the Art Academy of the People’s Liberation Army, a famous singer, and director of the National Opera Expert Committee, Ministry of Culture and Tourism attended the event and gave instructions. Liu Qiang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chengdu University, and Yu Junjian, Dean of the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, Wang Xiaojun, Vice President of the Chengdu University and Executive Dean of the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, and representatives of teachers and students watched the rehearsal.
The re-rehearsed True Love Knot vividly presents the heroic deeds of the warrior Huang Jiguang in the form of a musical. The musical is based on the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea as the background and is composed of the glorious deeds of Huang Jiguang, a special-grade hero of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. Through a checkered and vivid plot, it tells how Huang Jiguang and his soldiers and the Korean people with the same bloodline fought in the war against aggression. Their friendship, spirit of patriotism, internationalism, and revolutionary heroism made the sun and the moon lackluster, composing a song of righteousness praising the great spirit of the great era.
The re-rehearsal featured a strong lineup, with Qiao Peijuan as the art consultant. Moreover, Mu Xin, a famous director from National Defence University of People's Liberation Army, Li Wenping, an orchestrator, Luan Kai, a composer, and Zhu Danlin, a choreography designer, joined the creative team. Besides, Xiao Chao, the young conductor of the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra, acted as the opera conductor, Wang Hongwei, Jiang Ning, Huang Huali, Zhang Zhuo, Lu Hongwei, Wang Qian, and other famous musicians served as the lead singers.
Lu Hongwei, the Distinguished Deputy Dean of the School of Music and Dance of the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, played Huang Jiguang in the play. He said, "I'm very proud to be able to act the role of Huang Jiguang, who I admired since I was a child. I feel honored to participate in this event on behalf of the school. I learned a lot during the rehearsal and gained a greater sense of a heroic spirit from Huang Jiguang, as well as the great spirit of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. I am even more grateful to the predecessors for the happy life they have earned with their blood and lives! I am also thrilled to make presentations for teachers and students in the college theater. "
The performers gave their all to the performance, which elicited waves of ovation from the teachers and students. "I've watched the whole rehearsal with passion, this rehearsal paid tribute to the heroes of the people and reminded us of remembering history. In this peaceful and affluent society created by our ancestors, we must seize the day and work hard." "Enjoying the performances of national-level actors in my school makes me very happy. I'm thankful for the school for building such a good platform for us to participate, watch, and learn, and I have learned a lot." "He opened his arms, pounced at the firing point blasting flames, and blocked the enemy's muzzle with his chest, putting life and death aside. My soul was profoundly shaken. This great soldier is certain that there is no such thing as an undone mission, much alone an impossible challenge," the teachers and students who watched the composite rehearsal said.
According to Zhou Xiaoji, Secretary of the CPC College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts Committee, this performance marked the ASEAN Art Center's first performance. Both teachers and students have responded enthusiastically. More excellent art performances will be introduced in the future to further improve the college's campus cultural life.
