The premiere of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains", how the post-90s Sun Yifan took over the baton

Poster for the premiere of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains".

When he was transferring back to China at Warsaw Chopin Airport, Sun Yifan received the news of directing the premiere of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains", and his first reaction was excitement.
This new work was originally scheduled to be directed by Yu Long for the premiere. Due to the epidemic, he could not come to Shanghai, so he handed the baton to the post-90s Sun Yifan. At this time, there are only 15 days before the premiere.
On the evening of July 30, this symphonic poem, which integrates Chinese painting, Chinese poetry and Chinese musical instruments, will be performed by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sun Yifan and will be premiered at the Shanghai Summer Music Festival. At that time, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's video account, official Weibo, and The Paper will be broadcast live online.

Sun Yifan and Shanghai Jiao rehearse "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains". The pictures in this article are provided by the respondents

28-year-old Sun Yifan is under pressure, but he is not afraid of challenges. "Pressure is like a stimulant, it can stimulate the secretion of adrenaline."
"A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" painted by Wang Ximeng of the Northern Song Dynasty is regarded as the pinnacle of green landscape painting in the Song Dynasty. The painting depicts the splendid rivers and mountains of the motherland, with undulating peaks and undulating mountains, vast rivers and waves, and a myriad of weather.
In 2021, under the advocacy of Yu Long, chairman of the Symphony Orchestra Alliance of the China Music Association, 23 symphony orchestras across the country will jointly propose a commission to composer Zhao Lin.
The painter divided the scene into six parts, and correspondingly, the composer wrote six movements, trying to answer such a profound philosophical question with different musical aspects: what is China, what is Chinese.
"It's about an hour long, and the music structure is the total score." Sun Yifan introduced that the first movement "Clouds Flying, Chutian Thousands of Miles" gives a panoramic macro impression, "Water and Clouds Ripple" and "Moon Valley Pine Wind"" The four movements of "A Thousand Stacks of Mighty" and "Dawning Sky" describe different time and space scenes and different characters' moods respectively. The sixth movement "Ten Thousand Mountains into the Sea" returns to a panoramic perspective, sublimating and transcending the theme.
At the same time, the composer draws a lot of materials from Chinese classical literature. The title and subtitle of each movement are derived from the ancient famous lines in Tang poetry and Song poetry.

"A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" score.

While quarantined in the hotel, Sun Yifan began to study the score of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains". In order to give him an in-depth understanding of the blueprint for his creation, "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains", Yu Long specially sent a book. The book contains not only the strange people and strange things of the painter, but also the history and background of the birth of the painting, which helped him a lot in his approach to music.
"Mr. Yu introduced me to the door, and then it's up to my own perception." For Sun Yifan, the biggest challenge in directing such a big work is that, as the premiere, he doesn't have any materials that he can refer to and learn from. All are his first creations.
In addition to interpreting the majestic rivers and mountains of the motherland with majestic orchestral music, the composer also layered solo instruments such as sheng, pipa, erhu, piano, bamboo flute and other solo instruments in different movements, as well as the national soprano solo, to show people's inner heart when facing nature Feeling, has the effect of "the finishing touch".
"Each solo instrument is selected wonderfully, such as the Sheng in the second movement." The second chapter "Shuiyun Rongyang" expresses the relationship between man and nature. The composer first wrote the water, the cloud, and then the People's inner feelings, in his imagination, there are two old men drinking.
"The key word is 'melting'. In order to express the natural transition between water and clouds without gaps, the composer used Sheng, and its playing method is very close to string music." During the rehearsal with the Shanghai Symphony, Sun Yifan emphasized that after the performance of Sheng, The timbre and volume of the strings must be seamlessly connected in order to reflect the effect that the composer pursues in the orchestration.
Sun Yifan was gradually brought into the Chinese landscape by music. The sixth movement "Ten Thousand Mountains into the Sea" is his personal favorite, and I get goosebumps just by reading the score. The composer used bamboo flute solo and soprano solo. "The connection between the two is very good. Before the soprano comes in, the bamboo flute will play the soprano's melody first, as if floating from a distance.
In the fifth movement, "The Dawning Sky", Sun Yifan, who was a piano student, also took on the important task of solo piano.

In January 2022, Sun Yifan will collaborate with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

Pianist and conductor Barenboim often plays and plays by himself, but for Sun Yifan, playing the piano and directing the band is the first time, and the challenge is unprecedented. To this end, he did a lot of homework and summed up some tips.
Playing from start to finish, he didn't have enough conductor space in his hands and had to develop other parts of his body, such as his eyes, head, and shoulders, to signal the band's conductor. Stepping on the score-turner with his left foot, staring at the electronic score, flipping his hands on the keys, and listening to the band with his ears... At this moment, Sun Yifan is very busy.
Speaking of modern and contemporary music, many people's first impression is that it is difficult and obscure, but in Sun Yifan's opinion, "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" takes into account both audibility and academic quality. "It's very nice, and the composition techniques are also very particular." , Zhao Lin's father, the famous composer Zhao Jiping, is also a master of melody writing.
His mother is a university professor who studies Chinese culture. Influenced by his family, Sun Yifan has been fascinated by Chinese culture since childhood, and his favorite Chinese painter is Huang Binhong. After conducting "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains", he has a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and a deeper love.
Yu Long also hopes that every listener who hears this work can feel the beauty of China in the composer's heart and awaken the patriotic enthusiasm in their hearts.
【dialogue】
"A good way to get rid of tension is to focus on music"
The Paper: It's your first time on stage at a summer music festival, and you will be directing the world premiere of a blockbuster work. How do you feel?
Sun Yifan: I am very lucky, cherished, and grateful.
When I was in middle school, I was a big fan of summer music festivals. This year is quite special. I have changed from a bystander to a conductor on stage. While proud, I have a sense of mission.
Summer music festivals are very different from traditional music seasons. If the concert season is wine and steak, the summer festival is more like barbecue and beer, very relaxing, and complements the part that serious concerts do not have. Such a music festival that can stimulate creativity and imagination can only be implemented and developed in such an inclusive and diverse city as Shanghai.

Sun Yifan conducts the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Paper: From Zhang Lu (post-80s) who conducted the opening, to you (post-90s) who closed the conductor, to Jinyu Mine (post-00s), this year's summer music festival is entirely led by young conductors. What do you think of this phenomenon?
Sun Yifan: Accepting young people is the most valuable part of the summer music festival. Zhang Lu is my senior brother, and Jinyu Kuang is my junior brother. I am very honored to be able to participate in this inheritance and relay. Young people are a symbol, and more importantly, the message and spirit conveyed by the festival - the future will always belong to young people. Young people are not as young and immature as you think. They can thrive as long as they are given a chance. Rooted and sprouted.
In a few decades, I will no longer be a young person. If I have a small amount of power, I will definitely pass on the luck and opportunities I have now to the young people at that time.
The Paper: In this cooperation with Shanghai Jiaotong, many musicians are your teachers. They have taught you lessons at Shangyin. Will they look at you like a child?
Sun Yifan : The handover is very professional, and it is very cooperative with the commander. You will not have another face just because you look young. We have worked together three times before, and we know each other well, and the process of getting on track will be smoother than in the past.
The Paper: Maybe young conductors will encounter this problem. Will they be nervous when facing well-known orchestras and experienced musicians?
Sun Yifan: Of course, especially when I think about which conductors have stood on this stage, my legs will go weak. The best way to get rid of the tension is to focus on the music itself, forget your age, forget what band is in front of you, whether it is the Berlin Philharmonic or a band in a second or third tier city, it is the same.
The Paper: Have you often come to hand in for rehearsal before, and what impression do you have of Yu Long's command?
Sun Yifan: I came here almost every week during my college days. I have heard Mr. Yu Long rehearse many times. What impressed me most about Mr. Yu is that his rehearsal efficiency is very high, without a single word of nonsense, all problems are straight to the point, and can immediately change the sound of the band.
Each conductor has a different rehearsal style. Some conductors like to use adjectives to tell stories and describe pictures. Teacher Yu is a doer. All of his instructions are directly aimed at the performance itself. He will directly tell the band, this place How many bows to use, what kind of bow speed to use, and how much bow hair to use is very concrete.
For such a senior and master, there will definitely be a sense of awe and distance at the beginning. After contacting him, I found that he is a very easy-going person and takes great care of young people.
"People can build trusting relationships quickly"
The Paper: You were originally studying piano at Shanghai Conservatory, but why did you transfer to the conducting department?
Sun Yifan : I learned the piano very late. I was six and a half years old. I just jumped into the pit by myself. My parents didn't force me. At the age of 11, he was admitted to Shangyin Primary School.
The turning point was in the third year of high school. I was about to go abroad to study piano. A friend from the conducting department introduced me to sit in on the conducting class given by Mr. Zhang Guoyong in the Bachelor of Music. I couldn't help myself. After a semester of audition, I thought the conductor was very interesting. The richness of the band's sound was incomparable to that of a solo instrument. I took the initiative to find Teacher Zhang, hoping to join his class.
I didn't give up on the piano either. After all, the piano was the first musical instrument I learned, and it has become a part of my life, so I also took piano as an undergraduate.
The Paper: From piano to conductor, two completely different majors, is it difficult?
Sun Yifan: Switching between states is the most difficult. The piano is a monologue instrument, I just need to focus on my own world, handle myself well, and others will come in and listen to it. As for the commander, you have to convey your ideas and your handling opinions to others, and you have to convince others. My personality will change a lot as a result.
The help between the two is mutual. Your experience with music is especially nuanced when you actually operate an instrument. Conducting is more logical and structured, and this kind of macro experience will be very different in a solo.

Sun Yifan rehearsing with the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra

The Paper: What elements do you need to have in order to be a good conductor?
Sun Yifan : First of all, there must be a pair of good ears on the hardware, a subtle experience of timbre and pitch. In addition, conductors generally master a musical instrument, even very proficient. In addition, the logical thinking of conductors is also very important. When performing solo, we may have a lot of perceptual processing, or what we experience may not be clear, but everything about conductors must be implemented in specific operations, which is a height of perceptual and rationality. combine.
Conducting is also a profession dealing with people, and your communication skills and your emotional intelligence are also very important.
The Paper : When it comes to interacting with people, with so many people in the orchestra, do you feel social anxiety, especially when you collaborate for the first time?
Sun Yifan: There will definitely be at the beginning. In my freshman year, I conducted an orchestra for the first time, a professional orchestra—the Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra. After 20 minutes, I didn’t remember what I said at all, and I didn’t dare to look directly at a certain part. Later, I gradually discovered that this kind of defense was set up by myself. In fact, people can establish a relationship of mutual trust very simply and quickly.
The Paper : You have followed conductors Zhang Guoyong and Lin Daye. How did the two teachers influence you?
Sun Yifan: Their styles are different, and they also have a relationship between teachers and teachers. Teacher Lin is a student of Teacher Zhang, so there is no contradiction, and they are in the same line. The biggest thing I have learned from Teacher Zhang is his grasp of the structure of music, and his every handling is very logical and can convince everyone. Mr. Lin has the experience of studying in Germany, and told me a lot about German orchestra and German sound.

Conducting the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra

The Paper : In 2019, you went to study at the Hans Eisler Conservatory of Music in Berlin, Germany. What is the difference between domestic education and domestic education?
Sun Yifan : Education in China is more systematic and strict. I took a professional class with a German professor. There was no piano accompaniment. Like, suggest or inspire more.
"I will avoid asking each other in a commanding tone"
The Paper : Many young conductors are most worried about not having an orchestra. You seem to have no such worries. In 2020, you began to frequently conduct domestic first-tier orchestras, why?
Sun Yifan: In 2019, I won the International Youth Conducting Competition in Bucharest, Romania. After winning the prize, I went to study in Germany. In 2020, because of the epidemic, the school was closed, and I flew back. It is also because of the epidemic that many foreign artists cannot enter, giving young people some opportunities. Teacher Yu Long has been pushing young people to find me and give me a lot of attention and help.
The Paper : In March 2022, you became the assistant conductor of the NCPA Orchestra again. How can you convince them to give you the orchestra?
Sun Yifan: I am very lucky to have these opportunities. There are many capable people, but not everyone can get such an opportunity and platform, which I cherish very much.
Regarding trust, first of all, your respect for everyone is essential. Second, I will continue to adjust and optimize my rehearsal style. How does a young conductor convince the band, sometimes there may be some subtleties with a mature conductor difference. For example, when there is a big age gap between me and the musicians, I will address the other party's teacher. I will avoid using an imperative tone to ask the other party what to do. It's more of a discussion. We are partners. We are creating music together.
The Paper: In the impression of many people, command is a representative of "power".
Sun Yifan : The current trend of international command work is to develop more and more in the direction of democracy and equality. Many of the old-school conductors of the golden age were "dad-like" or "boss-like", and everyone has seen the video of Toscanini scolding the bass player, which is typical, and no longer exists.

Conducting the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra

One of the reasons for the change is that the level of the orchestra is constantly improving, and many musicians are very good soloists or chamber musicians. Everyone has independent musical ideas. It is very impolite to treat each other as a musical instrument. There should be more communication and exchanges and respect for their ideas.
The Paper : Do you have any idols on the road of command, the kind you hope to move in his direction.
Sun Yifan: Idols are changing. At the beginning it was always Karajan, he was like a benchmark. Later, after continuous study, I really admired Abbado. The relationship between him and the band is the one I yearn for the most. He really brought the symphony into the process of chamber music. Listening to his band, you will feel that every part is breathing, the musicians make a very unified sound, and at the same time everyone has their own personality and ideas. Cells are alive.
The Paper : You are still young, what do you think your strengths are?
Sun Yifan : Youth itself is not an advantage, but it may get more attention. I'm thinking more now, when I'm no longer young, and the label of youth is removed, what's left? In the end, it depends on the music itself, what kind of auditory impression your rehearsal skills can bring to the audience.
In terms of works, I am still at the stage of extensive research. My favorite composers include Brahms, Mahler, and especially Schubert since childhood. When I have enough experience and enough understanding, I will study them more deeply.
The Paper : In addition to musical talent, conductors also need to learn from others’ strengths, and need deep cultivation and accumulation. How do you usually enrich yourself? I heard that you love reading books?
Sun Yifan: I read a lot of books. The commander needs to contact all kinds of professions and people, and the reading surface needs to be spread out. With the breadth, you can selectively carry out more in-depth improvement. In the early days, I liked to read classics, literature, and later science, astronomy, history, and even detectives. I am interested in reading books, and I will persist in utilitarian words for a long time. I also read books related to music and conducting, and the rest of the time I read what I like.