When Beijing Opera meets a German Conductor and his Symphony Orchestra——Behind the scenes of the Concert for the 45thAnniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relationship between China and Germany

10月下旬，德国北京大学校友会会长于芳在微信朋友圈发了这么一条“图文”——

东西方文化的碰撞？具体点，就是京剧用交响乐伴奏而指挥是德国人，就是于魁智老师唱《大雪飘》而指挥是德国人奥特斯巴赫（这是我知道的有史以来第一次由外国指挥来指挥京剧伴奏啊）。再具体点！就是于魁智第一句“大雪飘，扑人面，朔风阵阵透骨寒”没唱完，“Nein，nein!”德国指挥奥特斯巴赫大叫着把指挥棒掷在了谱台上……“这不行！”跟着就是一通关于什么是“交响”的表述；就是整个排练场静止；就是我闭嘴不译，一脸尴尬苦笑；就是于魁智老师保持着雍容大度，镇定微笑着解谱、找切点；就是奥特斯巴赫聪明而又严谨地去变通、配合……

东西方文化的融合？就是合练一天后的默契；就是于魁智唱完另一句散板“忍孤愤山神庙暂避风寒”之后，交响乐恰到好处地切入，令人汗毛乍起地烘托；就是于魁智对奥特斯巴赫竖起大拇指；就是这一唱段在法兰克福老歌剧院演出时全场爆发出的掌声……泪涌！

当演出的辉煌回归平静，浮喧归零，精华自显。那些东西方文化碰撞产生的震撼会慢慢沉淀于历史……

读罢文字，我能感受到于芳紧张、激动和兴奋交织在一起的情绪。但是当时现场究竟发生了什么事，我还是有点一头雾水。之后，我忽然接到她的电话，问我看没看她的朋友圈。没等我回答，她就兴奋地说：“我的朋友圈都点赞满屏了！”

幕后：“给我一个眼神，我就知道怎么接了”

今年是中德建交45周年，应该借此契机组织一场纪念活动。在德华京剧苑秘书长、德国北大校友会前会长顾裕华的推动下，这个想法得到了中国文联、中国驻德国大使馆的大力支持，中国文联组派了一个26人组成的中国艺术演出团赴德演出，这场名为“庆祝中德建交45周年‘莱茵华韵’京剧交响音乐会”的演出中，涵盖了京剧、琵琶、二胡、民乐演奏与民歌演唱等内容。尤其让人期待的是，还有中国国家京剧院著名京剧演员于魁智和李胜素加盟。

为了突出纪念中德建交的友好气氛，于芳联系了德国吉森大学交响乐团参与演出。中方导演听说后立即决定所有节目改由交响乐团伴奏，并立即请名家编写交响乐曲谱，提前交给了吉森大学交响乐团。

中国文联艺术团于10月12日抵达德国，音乐会定于15日举行——与交响乐团的磨合排练只有短短的两三天时间。合练的第一天下午，吉森大学交响乐团早早在学校等候。趁中方人员没到，乐团指挥奥特斯巴赫迫不及待地要演奏一下他们已经排练了两个多月的开场曲目——交响乐《太阳出来喜洋洋》。

音乐响起，于芳愣了一下，有点怀疑自己的耳朵——这是那首轻快喜悦的中国民乐吗？怎么有点贝多芬交响曲的味道？她想对奥特斯巴赫说，能不能演奏得再轻快一些。话到嘴边又咽了回去——每位指挥对乐曲的理解不同，德国指挥心目中的《太阳出来喜洋洋》可能就是这样一种德味的厚重的喜悦，这不正是一次中德文化尝试交融的实践吗？

显然奥特斯巴赫对自己的演绎很满意：“怎么样？再来一遍吧！”兴奋之情溢于言表，于是又指挥乐团演奏了一遍。

合练开始，首先是于魁智的京剧演唱。德国大编制的交响乐团需要与中国京胡、月琴、鼓板、云锣的京剧小乐队配合，整个乐团又要与于魁智的唱腔配合……于芳在微信朋友圈中写的那一段就发生在这个节骨眼上。

于魁智的京剧唱段选的是《野猪林》里林冲的一段，开头是一句散板：“大雪飘，扑人面，朔风阵阵透骨寒……”于魁智正唱得自如潇洒，奥特斯巴赫突然脸憋得通红，一下子把指挥棒扔在了谱架上，冲着于芳高声大嚷：“不，不对！他没按拍子唱！知道什么是交响乐吗？！”……现场气氛顿时紧张起来。于芳没有直译奥特斯巴赫的话，挤出笑容冲他歪了下头，回身和于魁智交流，问什么地方出了问题。于魁智说，京剧里散板的拍子应该是自由的，在国内演出，乐队都是随着演员，知道怎么来配合。但是，德国的交响乐团久已习惯按谱子演奏，一下子就蒙圈了。

当时全场安静，于芳的心脏几乎停跳到嗓子眼儿。尽管事先预计到合练可能会发生一些不适应，但真正发生激烈反应时，大家心里还是着实紧张起来。

有人出来安慰说，交响乐团实在伴奏不了可以改成清唱。这怎么行呢，这么多人这么长时间的准备，放弃了多可惜！于芳了解到双方的差异点之后，耐心地对奥特斯巴赫讲解了中国京剧的演唱特点，积极沟通双方一起来解决这个从没有遇到过的问题。奥特斯巴赫很聪明，马上理解了，并和于魁智一起想办法——比如第一句唱词由中国的京剧小乐队伴奏，等散板唱完进入行板唱段时，胡琴给指挥一个提示，交响乐团在合适的地方切进来。后面再碰到这种情况，也照此处理，层次递进地烘托情绪、营造氛围。

奥特斯巴赫聪明变通，激情投入。于魁智挥手打着拍子配合。后来在几个关节点上，奥特斯巴赫都带着乐团越来越精准地切进来。于魁智伸出了大拇指。奥特斯巴赫露出了得意的笑容。

是于魁智处变不惊的微笑，是于芳对德国人的了解与积极协调，是奥特斯巴赫触类旁通的机变，化解了场面上的尴尬。有了这次东西方艺术上的碰撞与磨合，后面的事情就好办多了。合练越来越好，待到李胜素加入合练，乐团的配合就更顺畅了。

“东西方文化上存在差异，正需要我们去交流融通，以期达到相互了解和认同。我是为合作而来，为宣传京剧艺术而来，也是为学习而来。永远保持微笑是我一贯的准则。”于魁智事后说，“我从奥特斯巴赫身上也学到很多。他有精益求精的职业态度，指挥时激情澎湃，能把情绪传递到乐团的每一位乐手。我越来越喜欢他啦。”奥特斯巴赫也说：“和于魁智先生一起演出我很高兴。他是一个伟大的演员。京剧是一个很棒的剧种，很有魅力，只是刚接触时陌生，不习惯，后来就越来越觉得自然了。”

给人留下深刻印象的还有中国民乐的合练和演出。琵琶名家吴玉霞演奏的《云想花想》本来是一支独奏曲，为此次演出专门编写了和交响乐团的协奏乐谱。德国乐团的很多人不知道什么是琵琶，于芳就下载图片给他们看，播放曲子给他们听。这是一支悲怆的爱情曲，中间有一段非常悲愤激烈的即兴拨弦宣泄。但是，拨弦宣泄要多长，乐团何时切入，也成了一个小问题。奥特斯巴赫问，要拨弦几下？吴玉霞一愣，说从来没数过。于是，于芳帮着数，一共八下。合了几次后，奥特斯巴赫对吴玉霞说：“行了，你不用拘泥次数了。你拨弦够了，给我一个眼神，我就知道怎么接了。”

第二天排练时，吴玉霞和二胡名家邓建栋又与奥特斯巴赫就乐曲风格、节奏强弱等进行了深入交流，专门探讨乐曲情感的表达与处理，达成了高度默契。奥特斯巴赫说：“你们放心，中国音乐的表达方式我很理解了，回家把几个地方再仔细琢磨一下，演出一定会很成功。”

台前：中国民族音乐在异国他乡展现独特魅力

10月15日，庆祝中德建交45周年“莱茵华韵”中国京剧交响音乐会在欧洲五大歌剧院之一、历史悠久的法兰克福老歌剧院隆重上演。众多华人和德国友人购票观看，全场2000人座无虚席。演出以交响乐《太阳出来喜洋洋》开场，气势震撼。京剧、琵琶、二胡、中国民歌等节目精彩纷呈。德国华人联合合唱团和德国吉森合唱团一起上演了160人大合唱，大气磅礴；他们演唱的德国歌曲布兰诗歌《哦！命运》和中文歌曲《茉莉花》《在希望的田野上》《难忘今宵》把热烈的气氛推向高潮。于魁智和李胜素的演唱无疑是音乐会的重头戏——在于魁智唱完第一句散板时，交响乐团恰到好处地切入，烘托出的气氛十分感人。一段终了，全场爆发出热烈掌声……整场演出非常成功。

“相知无远近，万里尚为邻。这次演出创造了两个史无前例：一是由德国人指挥交响乐团为中国的京剧和器乐伴奏，实现了中西文化艺术的交流与交融，促进了中国京剧和民乐走进德国主流社会。”于芳说，“我没想到欧洲人这么喜欢琵琶和二胡，指挥奥特斯巴赫对中国音乐的表达也非常到位，现场气氛极为热烈，中国的民族音乐在异国他乡展现出了独特的魅力。”

In late October, YU Fang, president of Peking University Alumni Association in Germany, sent such a "graphic"---

Collision of Eastern and Western Cultures? In speci fic, a symphony orchestra accompanied the Beijing Opera, and the conductor was a German, Master YU Kuizhi sung the Snow Drift, a Beijing Opera repertoire, but the conductor was a German man, Stefan Ottersbach(This is the first time ever that I knew that a foreign conductor commanded Peking Opera accompaniment). In more specific, the Germany conductor shouted, throwing the baton on the music stand,"Nein, nein!” as YU Kuizhi even didn’t finish the first lining "Snow drifts, bashing into people’s faces with penetrating cold wind"…"This is not going to work!" followed by a statement concerning the meaning of "Symphony". The whole rehearsal field remained silent,I stopped interpretation with an awkward smile, Master YU Kuizhi held a generous grace, smiling calmly trying to find a cut-point,and Stefan Ottersbach tried to be more flexible and cooperative in a smart and rigorous manner.

Integration of Eastern and Western Cultures? The tacit understanding after a day-long co-cultivation, the very right cut of symphony as soon as Master YU Kuizhi finished another freerhythm "Endless solitary anger, keeping warm in a temple", creating a sweaty contrast. YU Kuizhi thumbed up to Stefan Ottersbach,it was the bursting applauses out of such aria in the old theatre in Frankfurt… so moved! The essence shows its self-significance as the glory of performance returns to calmness. The shock caused by the cultural collision between East and West will gradually precipitate in history ...

I could feel the mood of YU Fang intertwined between tension and excitement from YU Fang after reading the text. But I still remained a little confused about what happened at the scene.After that, I suddenly received her phone call, asking me if I have seen her circle of friends. Without waiting for my answer, she exclaimed: "My friends' circle is full of LIKE!"

Behind the Scene: Just Give Me a Glance, l know How to Pick Up

王二妮演唱陕北民歌《山丹丹花开红艳艳》Red Flowers Blossom, a folk song of Northern Shaanxi by WANG Erni

This year marks the 45thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. We should take this opportunity to organize a commemorative event.Under the promotion by GU Yuhua, Secretary-general of Peking Opera Club in Deutschland and former president of Peking University Alumni Association in Germany, this idea was strongly supported by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Chinese Embassy in Germany. CFLAC dispatched a 26-member Chinese performing arts troupe to Germany, the performance, however, with the name of Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Ties between China and Germany 'Rhythm of China by Rhine' Peking Opera Symphony Concert , covered Peking Opera, Pipa, Erhu, folk music performances and songs and other content. In particular, what people expected was the joining of YU Kuizhi and LI Shengsu,renowned Chinese Peking Opera performers from National Peking Opera Company.

With the purpose of highlighting the friendly atmosphere of establishing diplomatic relationship between China and Germany,YU Fang contacted the German Giessen University symphony orchestra to participate in the performance. Immediately after the Chinese director heard the announcement, he decided that all the programs should be accompanied by the symphony orchestra and immediately asked the famous masters to write the symphony score and hand it over to the symphony orchestra of the University of Giessen in advance.

CFLAC troupe only had three-day long rehearsal as they arrived in Germany on 12, October, and the concert would be held three days later, the total length for rehearsal. On the first day of cocultivation, the symphony orchestra of the University of Giessen waited in school early. Taking the advantage of the absence of Chinese staff, Stefan Ottersbach, the orchestra conductor, could not wait to play the opening repertoire, in which they had been rehearsing for more than two months - the symphonyHappiness After Sunrise.

YU Fang was stunned for a moment as the music started, a little skeptical of his own ears--- is this still that light and happy Chinese folk music? How i t was possible as there was a taste of Beethoven symphony? She wanted to ask Stefan Ottersbach if he could play the music in a lighter manner. But she stopped---each conductor has a different understanding of music, theHappiness After Sunrisecould be bearing an intense happiness of Germany, isn’t this a fusion of practice of China-Germany cultures.

Being most obvious, Stefan Ottersbach was very satisfied with his interpretation: "How about it? Come on again!" Excitement overflowed with words, he directed the orchestra to play again.The Peking Opera performed by YU Kuizhi started first. The large German symphony orchestra needed to cooperate with the small band of Peking Opera, composed by the instrument of Jinghu, Yueqin,Guban and Yunluo, the whole orchestra should be coordinated with the singing of YU Kuizhi…… that story in the Wechat circle of friends posted by YU Fang happened at that special moment.

德国著名指挥家奥斯特巴赫Renowned German Conductor Stefan Ottersbach

"Snow drifts, bashing into people’s faces with penetrating cold wind", a free-rhythm at the beginning in the section depicting LIN Chong in theWild Boar Forest, an aria of Peking Opera sang by YU Kuizhi. As he was singing freely with much confidence,Stefan Ottersbach’s face got flushed out of a sudden, throwing the baton on the music stand, "No, no! He does not sing by tempo, do you know what a symphony is?!” …… the atmosphere suddenly became so intense. YU Fang did not interpret Stefan Ottersbach’s words literally, squeezing a smile to him, turning around and starting to talk with YU Kuizhi to find if there was anything wrong. YU Kuizhi said that the tempo in Peking Opera should be free, and all bands were following the performers in domestic performances in China, knowing how to cooperate.However, the German symphony orchestra was totally shocked as they has long been accustomed to play by score.

The whole rehearsal field remained silent, and YU Fang’s heart almost stopped. Although it was expected that the co-rehearsal might not meet some of the requirements in the first place, it was still really intense when people reacted sharply……

Some said that there could be an unaccompanied singing if the symphony orchestra was unable to play. How is this possible,so many people have been preparing for such a long time, it is indeed a pity to give up! Having acknowledged the difference between the two parties, YU Fang patiently explained to Stefan Ottersbach about singing characteristics of Beijing Opera and actively communicated with both parties to solve the problems never encountered before. Stefan Ottersbach is very wise and understood immediately, starting to find solutions with YU Kuizhi--- for example, the first sentence by the Chinese Peking Opera band, the Huqin would give the conductor a hint and the symphony orchestra jumped in properly as the andante initiated after the free-rhythm was finished. It was dealt likewise in the following situation, heightening the emotion and creating the atmosphere in a progressing manner.

Stefan Ottersbach is wise man with much passion, and YU Kuizhi waved with the beat. And the conductor led the band to cut in more and more precisely in the follow-up key points. YU Kuizhi stretched out his thumb, and a proud smile was found on Stefan Ottersbach’s face.

It is YU Kuizhi’s calm smile, YU Fang's understanding and active coordination with the German people and Stefan Ottersbach’s wisdom by analogy that resolved the embarrassment at the scene. The following situation was much smooth with the collision of Eastern and Western art, witnessing better co-cultivation and cooperation with bands was much smoother with the joining of LI Shengsu later.

There are differences between Eastern and Western cultures,requiring our exchanging and cooperation so as to achieve mutual understanding and recognition. I come for cooperation,promote art of Peking Opera and learning as well. Keep smiling forever is my usual guideline. YU Kuizhi said after the event,I learned a lot from Stefan Ottersbach. He has a professional attitude of excellence, very passionate in commanding and he can pass the emotions to each of the orchestra musicians. I like him more and more. Stefan Ottersbach said that he is very delighted to perform with YU Kuizhi. He is a greater performer.Peking Opera is a great drama, very attractive, I was not used to it at the very beginning, but feeling much natural later.

The co-cultivation and performance of Chinese folk music also impressed all the audiences.Thinking by Wind & Flowers,performed by famous Pipa player WU Yuxia, originally a solo,was composed as a concerto for symphony orchestra especially prepared for this performance. Many people in the German orchestra did not know what is the Pipa, YU Fang downloaded and showed them the pictures and played songs for them. This is a sorrowful love song, with a very sad and intense improvisation of pluck for catharsis in the middle of it. However, how the pluck lasted and when the bands cut in also became a minor problem.Stefan Ottersbach’s asking about the times of pluck surprised WU Yuxia for a moment as she never counted. Hence, there was eight times under YU Fang’s help. Stefan Ottersbach told WU Yuxia, after few co-cultivation, it is ok, you don’t have to stick to the times. You just pluck and I know how to pick up when you give a glance.

During the rehearsal on the next day, WU Yuxia and Erhu master DENG Jiandong have exchanged ideas thoroughly with Stefan Ottersbach concerning music style, rhythms and others, specifically exploring the emotional expression and handling of music, reaching a high degree of understanding.Stefan Ottersbach said: just believe me, I totally understand the expression of Chinese music, I will think about few points after going home, and I’m sure the show will be a great success.

于魁智、李胜素合唱京歌《蝶恋》Love of Butterflies, Beijing Opera Chorus by YU Kuizhi and LI Shengsu

On the Stage: Chinese Folk Music Showcases Unique Charm in a Foreign Land

On 15, October, the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, 'Rhythm of China by Rhine', a Chinese Peking Opera Symphony concert, was held in the old theatre in Frankfurt with a long history, one of the grand theatres in Europe.Some 2,000 Chinese and German people have attended the event. The performance began with the imposing symphonyHappiness After Sunrise. The Peking Opera, Pipa, Erhu, Chinese folk songs and other programs presented much brilliance to the audiences. The magnificent 160-people chorus staged by the German-Chinese joint choir and German Giessen impressed all deeply, with their performance of German Carmina BuranaO FortunaandChina’s Jasmine,Land of HopeandUnforgettable Nightpushed the warm atmosphere to the climax. The performance of YU Kuizhi and LI Shengsu undoubtedly highlighted the concert, as the perfect cut-in of the symphony orchestra as YU finished the first free-rhythm, demonstrating a very touching atmosphere. A warm applause broke out from the audiences after the end of a session…… the whole performance is most successful.Distance cannot separate true friends. The performance has created two unprecedented events: firstly, a German conductor’s commanding a symphony orchestra to accompany China’s Peking Opera and instrument,realizing the exchanges and integration between Chinese and Western culture and art while promoting the Chinese Peking Opera and folk music into the mainstream society in Germany.YU Fang said, it is totally out of my expectation that the Europeans like the pipa and erhu so much. Stefan Ottersbach,the conductor, properly expressed the Chinese music. With the unprecedentedly warmth, China's national music has shown its unique charm in a foreign country.

严庆谷表演《美猴王》Monkey King performed by YAN Qinggu