Every reporter Ding Zhouyang Bi Yuanyuan Li Jianing Every editor Dong Xingsheng
From September 2019 to the present, Zhao Lin, the music director of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, finally got a break, but not completely. Before accepting an exclusive interview with a reporter from “Daily Economic News” (hereinafter referred to as “NBD”), he just finished communicating with the person in charge of the music for the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
As the music director, the composer Zhao Lin is more like a music director, communicating and reporting to Zhang Yimou, the chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, and coordinating the work of the director, band, sound engineer and other business lines. He was often a listener, pacifying a highly nervous composer. “I often receive WeChat voice matrix, five or six 60-second voices all at once.”
Born into a musical family, Zhao Lin is a representative figure among young composers.He has composed many concertos for the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and created film music for Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Huang Jianxin, Feng Xiaogang and many other well-known directors. But to join the Winter Olympics project, he hopes to leave creative opportunities to more young composers.
“Many friends say that you, as a director, should write a few more pieces by yourself. This is a great opportunity, but I think all my energy should be focused on helping directors and composers complete their works.”Zhao Lin said.
Winter Olympics
Sometimes just a trumpet solo
On the contrary, it can touch millions of people
In September 2019, Zhao Lin, the music director, was rehearsing the party for the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China in the Great Hall of the People when he received an olive branch from Zhang Yimou.
“Tell a romantic story in a straightforward way.” This is the general direction set by Zhang Yimou for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Among them, the role of music is indispensable. It seems to be indifferent, but a little carelessness will destroy the overall tonality.
The music finally presented at the opening ceremony of this Winter Olympics is a number of works with different styles but harmonious with each other. When the clear and ethereal children’s voice sang “Snowflakes, snowflakes, blooming in the sun. In their hometown and in the distance, they all shine the same way”, the children holding doves of peace stepped on the starlight and ran in the field, “One family in the world, let’s go to the future together. “The faith flows out silently with the notes moisturizing things.
Photo source of Zhao Lin at the opening ceremony: Photo courtesy of the interviewee
NBD: On the evening of February 4th, before the opening ceremony was over, the music of the Winter Olympics was the first to come out. The audience was deeply impressed by the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms”, the music of the five rings of ice and snow, the Greek singing of the Fuping children, the theme song, etc. . The music of each stage is different, but the whole is harmonious. How is this achieved?
Zhao Lin:We have a general goal, at the opening ceremony, to make a romantic, touching and well-spoken Winter Olympics story. Therefore, the tone for everyone to do things is more clear.
The director emphasized that the general direction of our music is that the “audibility” should be stronger, that is to say, it should sound good. It is necessary to consider the listening habits and acceptance levels of audiences around the world, and I hope everyone can quickly feel the information conveyed by the music. In addition, we have a theme – “a snowflake”, so everyone will feel that although the form is relatively rich, the overall feeling is very unified and very smooth.
2022 Beijing Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
Image credit: Vision China – VCG31N1368591102
NBD: Of the opening music, what was the hardest?
Zhao Lin:In the early days, more than 50 composers were invited to participate in the creation. Among them, “The Five Rings of Ice and Snow” invited more than a dozen young composers. It was the most difficult and complex program. From “Water of the Yellow River” to the rise of “Ice Cube”; from historical review to the emergence of Beijing; to playing ice hockey and carving the five rings… This series of music and videos are the most closely intertwined, and at the same time they are creating In the process, they constantly stimulate each other and improve together. The program took nearly a year from start to finish.
At the same time, all other programs are advancing simultaneously. For the program “Snowflake Construction”, we felt that the music style was basically finalized last summer, but as the rehearsal deepened, the structure continued to be adjusted.Therefore, for each program, whether the style is quickly determined in the early stage, or the appropriate method is always found, the work of each of our composers has not stopped.
Although “Snowflake Construction” is the first show to determine the style, it is also the last work to be modified. After the review at the end of January, we adjusted it again, including the music, and recorded it again.
The director did not slack off in all departments, whether it was in the early stage of creation or when he felt that it was almost the same in the later stage, and he was still trying to find new ideas. The entire opening has been breaking our habits of appreciation and conventional feelings.
Photo source of Zhao Lin, who is directing and creating: Photo courtesy of the interviewee
NBD: From the 2008 Olympics to this year’s Winter Olympics, China has undergone tremendous changes. What do you understand about the changes in conveying Chinese culture to the world?
Zhao Lin:In 2008, our mentality was that we wanted to show the world the state of the country at that time, and we had the ability to host an Olympic Games. At the same time, I want to show the world how splendid our civilization is for five thousand years. There is no need to show these now, we have a sincere heart and tell the world our philosophy in a simple and simple way.
Specific to music programs, can grand narratives achieve shocking effects? Can a small expression hit the heart?Sometimes just a solo, on the contrary, moved hundreds of millions of audiences. For example, a primary school student played the trumpet, or the first line of the theme song was sung by a little girl, which made everyone deeply affected.
On the surface, the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics is wonderful and beautiful, but in fact there is a lot of ideological essence of Chinese culture behind it. This is a saying in painting, called “look at its potential from a distance, and see its quality close-up”.
break the question
Express “Li Chun” with classical music
Show individuality in common themes
Artistic creation is often full of individuality, and the Winter Olympics, as an international event facing the world, the design of the opening ceremony should not only show the world the Chinese style, but also let every audience understand our voice, which is also every The “commonality” that participating creators are looking for.
Zhao Lin regards a part of the music creation of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony as a “proposition composition” – creating unique content within the framework designated by the director. “Many works of art in history have been created under the same theme, which is normal, but being able to show the brilliance of one’s own personality within the constraints of the same theme is the best.”
NBD: The Winter Olympics is a global event. For the first time, the music for the opening ceremony of an international large-scale event will be played. What do you think is the biggest challenge?
Zhao Lin:China has its own cultural characteristics, and other countries also have theirs. The biggest challenge for us is to find the commonalities of different cultures.
For example, the “Li Chun” seen at the opening ceremony is a Chinese cultural characteristic, but we have adopted a common expression. For audiences in many countries, they are accustomed to the expression of classical music and express in the way they are most familiar with, while the core of music is still Chinese traditional culture, which makes foreign audiences feel both unfamiliar and familiar.
Beginning of Spring elements at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics
Image credit: Vision China-VCG111367769125
NBD: Creators often have their own distinct personalities and characteristics. As part of the Winter Olympics, each program must have a unified tone. How do you manage this balance?
Zhao Lin:Art is individual and forward-looking. Artists need to be sharper and more avant-garde than ordinary people, but I have always emphasized to creators that the first thing to be accomplished is the functionality of the work. It is necessary to make it clear that we are doing a “square culture” rather than a “concert hall culture”, and use a language familiar to the public to convey what we want to express.
In fact, from the very beginning, the director had already decided that the snowflakes should be warm, romantic and beautiful, so every creator should write in this direction, instead of creating based on their own feelings about the snowflakes, it would be out of the director’s requirements the overall framework. Under such a general direction, each creator has a different way of describing romance and a different degree of showing beauty. This is where they show their individuality. Fill in the director’s big frame, and at the same time allow the director to see the light of his personality exposed.
NBD: How many people participated in the music composition and production of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics? How do you communicate with creators?
Zhao Lin:On the surface, there are only four people in the music department, me and three assistants, but there are actually many people involved in music creation and production. From the point of view of composers alone, each program has invited at least 5 composers.
Zhao Lin at work (first from left) Image source: Photo courtesy of the interviewee
In fact, composers, including all creators, are very sensitive at heart, especially the director has almost extreme requirements for the effect of the program, which requires the creator to revise it over and over again. Because this is not the creator’s own personal creation, but a creative achievement that needs to be recognized by everyone. But for creators, the things they write will be constantly “killed” and overthrown, and it’s easy to get emotional breakdown.
And every composer has a different personality. Some people send WeChat to me every day to discuss and tell me their ideas. As a music director, the most important thing is to communicate with every composer, Help them build their self-confidence, which is very important for their creation. Before the opening ceremony, I was not familiar with many composers, but after this experience, I have become good friends with them all.
Father
I didn’t choose me because of my dad
Still gotta be real
Zhao Lin was born in a real artistic family. Grandpa Zhao Wangyun once organized Houhong Art Club together with Wang Senran, Li Kuchan and other calligraphy and painting masters in his early years. His creations are always oriented towards life, and he is especially good at expressing the landscapes of the Northwest and the working life of people of all ethnic groups. He is one of the founders of the “Chang’an School of Painting”. one. His father, Zhao Jiping, is a well-known composer. He wrote classic music pieces for classic film and television works such as “Red Sorghum”, “Farewell My Concubine”, “Westward Journey” and “The Great Qin Empire”. He was the chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association.
Growing up in such an environment, Zhao Lin also embarked on the road of music like his father, and has been responsible for the music creation and music director of film and television dramas, stage plays, and evening shows for many times. However, Zhao Lin admitted that his initial music study was not smooth sailing.
NBD: Is it your own hobby or a family request for you to embark on the path of music?
Zhao Lin:At first it was a request from my family. When I was in elementary school, my parents thought I should learn the piano, so they let me practice for six years, but I didn’t feel much about music at that time, and playing the piano was just like that. Later, I didn’t get into the high school attached to the Xi’an Conservatory of Music, so I went to the ordinary middle school. It was also from that time that I began to “free myself”, climbing the city wall and going down the river every day.
In the second half of the second semester of junior high school, for some unknown reason, I suddenly developed a strong interest in music creation. I wanted to write songs, I wanted to find a teacher to teach me, and I wanted to go to the conservatory of music. Since then, I have been involved in music. road. It makes me feel lucky to have found my interest so early and made it along the way.
Photo source of Zhao Lin: Photo courtesy of the interviewee
NBD: What is your music creation philosophy?
Zhao Lin:My grandfather has always emphasized the influence of life on artistic creation. Because in the 1940s, my grandfather left his hometown and traveled along the Yellow River, painting people fleeing along the way every day. It can be seen that the living conditions of each person in his works are different, and the traditional brush and ink are truly integrated with the life of the working people.
Therefore, the motto of our family’s artistic creation is “to reach out to tradition with one hand, and to life with the other”, and I have been subtly influenced by this idea since I was a child, and I have always maintained this creative concept in my music.
NBD: You have collaborated with many well-known directors such as Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang, etc. What led to the birth of these classic film and television music?
Zhao Lin:It can be said that “the building near the water first gets the moon”. Because of my father, I have been familiar with these directors since I was a child, and they are the elders of my uncles. When they wanted to work with new people, I was one of the people they considered.
But it’s just a chance to be chosen. All directors will not choose me to do it just because my father is Zhao Jiping. If I can’t do it, I will definitely be replaced immediately.
NBD: How do you see your father’s influence on you?
Zhao Lin:A mountain is a mountain, a mountain is not a mountain, and a mountain is still a mountain.
Zhao Lin once appeared on CCTV’s “Classic Chanting” together with his father Zhao Jiping and daughter Zhao Jiajingyun Image source: Video screenshot
When I was a kid, I thought my dad was amazing, he wrote so many good works, and then when I started to write, I thought it was the same, and I could write as well as him. But with the growth of age and experience, my accumulation became deeper and deeper, and at the same time, I realized that my father was a mountain that I couldn’t overcome, and then I realized that I was still far away.
daughter
Grandpa can pet children
But it is my responsibility to educate my children
“Inheriting the father’s business” is a common choice for Chinese children when choosing a career, especially when parents have made achievements in their own fields, they often expect their children to continue to develop in this field.
When it comes to his daughter’s education, Zhao Lin fully respects his daughter’s choice. The little girl who laid flowers at her dad and grandpa’s symphony concert got an admission letter to Berklee College of Music at the end of last year. But Zhao Lin doesn’t care if the daughter who studies music will “her daughter inherit the father’s business”.
NBD: In an artistic family like yours, how would you feel if your daughter had music as a hobby rather than a career?
Zhao Lin:For her career choice, I fully respect her ideas and her choice. She learned the piano and played the harp when she was a child, then she sang, and now she is acting in a musical. No matter which one she chooses, the most important thing is to do what she wants to do and follow her heart.
Zhao Lin’s daughter Zhao Jiajingyun starred in the musical “Romeo and Juliet” stills Photo source: Photo courtesy of the interviewee
When my daughter was young, I forced her to practice the piano, whether it was 20 minutes a day or half an hour, I wanted to cultivate her concentration, but in the end it was entirely her choice.
NBD: Do certain requirements when you were young, and respect your individuality when you grow up. Is this also your family’s educational tradition?
Zhao Lin:Yes, from my grandfather to my parents, to my father’s education is very enlightened. When I was young, my father was very strict with me. After a certain age, he completely let me go and choose my own path. So I have my own personality, and as you can tell, I’m totally different from my dad’s.
NBD: How did your father get along with his granddaughter?
Zhao Lin:One summer vacation, I took my daughter back to Xi’an and asked her to stay with my grandfather for a while, and I also brought all the piano scores with me. Because after all, Grandpa’s status in her heart is different from what I told her to do.
I thought my father could accompany her to practice the piano, but when I went to pick her up, she said to me, “Grandpa said that I don’t need to practice piano anymore.”
My father said, “Your daughter will cry as soon as she plays the piano. I’ll say that’s fine and don’t practice anymore.” I said, “I also expected you to help me educate her, but my father told me a word to let me The memory is particularly deep, he said, ‘It’s my job to spoil and coax children, and it’s your responsibility to educate them. Father has the role of father, grandfather has the role of grandfather, don’t mix it up’.”
NBD: What do you value most in educating your children?
Zhao Lin:I think the most important thing for parents to educate their children is psychological construction. They should cultivate children to build a strong and confident heart. With self-confidence, they can perform well in all walks of life. Just like this Winter Olympics, we saw many Chinese athletes born in the 2000s. They are always very sunny and can constantly surpass themselves, which is inseparable from their strong and confident hearts.
Also, I’ve found that kids these days are very personal, and when you ask them to do something, they’re thinking “why”. Therefore, it is also very important to establish a good way of communication with children and to guide them.
Reporter’s Notes｜The best love for children is respect
Compared with the “Lao Zhao” teacher who was interviewed by reporters ten years ago, today’s “Xiao Zhao” teacher is more humorous, calm and gentle.
As Zhao Jiping’s son, Zhao Lin has unique conditions and resources. Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige are his “elders of the uncle’s generation”, but as Zhao Lin said, “the director will not choose me because my father is Zhao Jiping.” Although some people are born into families, anyone who wants to earn respect professionally and gain a place in the industry needs to rely on solid personal ability.
Nurturing and respecting children is easier said than done. The composer Zhao Lin, who came out of the artistic family, is inseparable from Zhao Jiping’s complete respect for Zhao Lin’s career choice, so that Zhao Lin can fall in love with music and work hard for it. And Zhao Lin also continued to pass on this family tradition to his daughter, watching her daughter shine on the stage of the musical.
Reporter: Ding Zhouyang, Bi Yuanyuan, Li Jianing
Editor: Dong Xingsheng
Vision: Zou Li
typesetting:Dong Xingsheng Ma Yuan
