Teen Sings Chinese Opera
2
Name: Pentagon Federal Credit Union; Width: 58p6; Depth: 1 in; Color: Black plus three, Pentagon Federal Credit Union; File Name: F R I D A Y , J U L Y 2 9 , 2 0 1 1 T H E W A S H I N G T O N E X A M I N E R ● ● 20 PERFORMING ARTS ByTerenc e Chea The Assoc iatedPress Tyl er Thompson is an unlikely star in theworldof Chineseopera. The bl ack teenag er from Oakland, Cal if ., has captivated audiences in the United States and China with his ability to sing pitch- perfect Mandarin and perform the anci entChinese artform. “As soon as he opens his mouth and sings in Chinese, the Chinese are very surprised and then feel very proud of him,” said his music teacher Sherl yn Chew . “When he puts on the costume, and all the acting, you can see that he’s pretty good.” Tyl er , 15, is a standout student in Chew’ s Oakland-bas ed Purple Silk Music Educat ion program, which teaches children and youth — mostl y from low-income immi- grant families — how to sing and playtraditi onalChinese music . The progra m’ s GreatWal l Y outh Orches - tra& Chor us hasperfor medaround the country. At the World Children’ s Festi- val in Washing ton in June, Tyl er , dress ed in a black robeemblaz oned withgolden drag ons,got a standing ovation when he performed as Jus- tice Bao, a famous Song Dynasty judge who fought government cor- ruption, from the Chinese classic “Bao Qing Tian. ” “The music is very beaut iful,and it’ s ver y pass ionate . You can hear it when it’s being played,” said Tyler, a theater student at the Oakland School for the Arts. “It’s made me wa nt to know moreaboutthe wor ld outside of America or California or Oakland.” David Lei, chairman of the Chi- nese Perf ormingArts Fou ndationin San Francisco, has seen Tyler per- formsev era l times andarranged to have him sing at the opening of a Chinese oper a exhi bit severalyears ago. “It’ s very authentic because he hit s the tones just right, so you unders tand everything ,” Lei said. “People just don’t expect an Afro- American kid to be doing it. It ’ s the initial shock. There’s a sense of novelty.” Tyler, who comes from a music- loving family , beg an lear ninghow to sing in Chinese a decade ago when he was a kindergartner in Chew’s music class at Oakla nd’ s Lincol n Eleme ntary School, wher e about 90 per cent of student s areAsian. Chew quickl y recognized Tyl er’ s tal entand recrui tedhim to joi n her Purple Silk music program, where stud ent s learn to singChinesesongs and play traditiona l instruments such as a two-st ring violincalle d an erhu, a four -str inged luteknownas a pi paand a bambooflutecall eda dizi. “I really took a liking to him and thoug ht he hadquite a larg e rang e, ” said Chew, who started the music progr amat Oaklan d’ s LaneyCollege in 1995. “He hears pitch very well, and his pronunciation of Chinese chara cters is very accur ate.” Black teen finds unusual talent in singing Chinese opera NOAH BERGER/AP Tyler Thompson has captivated audiences in the U.S. and China with his ability to sing pitch-perfect Mandarin. He plans to perform in China this summer. By Mari e Gull ard Special to The Washington Examiner Film buffs no doubt have every line of every character in the film “Casablanca” committed to mem- ory . But,apartfromthe few bar s of “ As TimeGoes By”that Ilsa insi sts on hummi ng toSam in Rick’ s Cafe, how many of these die-hards are abl e tohum wholesegment s ofthe film’s musical score? “Casablanca” boasts a soundtrack writte n by MaxSteiner , the composer who gave Americans such mast erpi eces of orchestr al film scoring as “Gone Wi th the Wind” and “Now Voyage r. ” Often referred to as “The Father of Film Music, ” Steiner’ s score for “King Kong” in 1933 defined a new era of dramatic film scores. Saturday night at Wolf Trap, conductor Emil de Cou will lead the National Symphony Orchestra in a note-for-note, in-sync perfor- mance of Steiner’ s “Casablanca” soundtrack. The love story will be shown simultaneously on large screens in-house and on the lawn. “There’ s so much wonderful Amer icanmusic thatpeople shoul d know, but these [film scores] are not played often, ” de Cou said. “I think it’s the best music of the American 20th century.” Her e in itsdebutperf ormance at Wolf Trap, Steiner’s original scor- ing of “Casablanca” (played along with the film) is a new project of John Goberman, who is probably best known as the creator of “Live from Lincoln Center, ” now in its 30th season on PBS. “John has been doing this won- derf ul film programming for the past 15 years, if not more, ” de Cou conti nued. “Steiner’ s score of ‘Casablanca’ is just incredible; wit h sophi stication that you just don’t hear that well in the [movie] theater.” Emil de Cou would know. Now the NSO’ s associat e conductor , he was formerly conductor of the American Ballet Theatre for eight seasons, performing in New York as well as in national and interna- tional tours. “[In] ball et conducting , there were always these great Russian scores of Tchaikovsky and Proko- fiev ,”he point ed out. “But Ameri ca’ s big contribution to 20th century music is in film; and these scores are every bit as good as ballet or opera, or any incidental music.” And, as if film buffs needed any moreconvincingof thetrut h tohis assertion, de Cou added, “Musical scoring is like a hidden character tha t hel ps promot e thestory; andit makes all the difference to its suc- cess or lack of success.” MUSIC ‘Play it Sam, Play As Time Goes By’ hits Wolf Trap ONSTAGE A Symphonic Night at the Movies: ‘Casablanca’ » Where: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna » When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday » Info: $20 to $52, 877-WOLFTRAP (965-3872) COURTESY PHOTO The National Symphony Orchestra will play the soundtrack from the classic film “Casablanca” while the movie is played on large screens simultaneously. AROUND TOWN Friday 311: The alter native rock group perf orms with Sublime with Rome . [6:3 0 p. m.JiffyLubeLive,7800Cellar DoorDrive, Bristo w,Va.] Baseball: The Washingto n Nation- als play the New York Mets. [7:05 p.m. Nationals Park, South Capitol Stre et SE] Seven Miles to Fr eedom: Author Janet Halfmann reads the story of Robert Small ’ s journey to freedom. [11 a.m. African American Civil War Memorial,1925 Vermont AvenueNW] U Str eetHeartand Soul T our : A foo d tour of local res tau rants andneigh- borhood history. [2:30p.m.D.C. Metro Food To urs, 10t h and U Str eetNW] ‘Sunny’: Thefilm by Korean dire c- tor Lee Joon Ik is screened. [6:30 p.m. KORUS House, 2320 Massachu- settsAvenueNW] The Bigger Lights: The pop rock group per for ms withDivid ed byFri- dayand FourthQuarterComeback. [6 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 E. Maple Avenue,Vienna] Saturday Soccer: ManchesterUnited plays FC Barcelona. [7 p.m. FedEx Field, 1600FedEx Way , Lando ver] Christina Perri: The pop singer- songwriter performs. [7 p.m. 9:30 Club,815 V Str eetNW] Still We Keep: A performance art installation on the themes of archi- tectur e, structur e, and story . [10 a.m. National Building Museum, 401 F Str eetNW] A Bl oss oming St yl e: Curator Sumr u Belg er Krod y discussesfour centuries of Ottoman embroidery. [10:30 a.m. Textile Museum, 2320 S Stre et NW] Smit hso nian Jaz z Mas terw orks Orchestra: A small jazz group per- formance of the music of Gerry Mulligan. [7:30p.m. NationalMuseum of American History, 14th Street and Const itutio n Ave nue NW] Rate and offers current as of July 1, 2011 and are subject to change. Rate depends on amount borrowed and term. *Rate applies to online applications only. Higher rate will be assessed if you do not apply online. Car Loans Refinanced, New, & Used 2 . 49 %APR * ONLINE ONLY! 12 to 60 months financing for up to $70,000 Payment example: $20,000 loan at 2.49% APR, 60 monthly payments of approximately $356 each Rate available for ALL model years PenFed.org/CarDeal 866.386.7191
Transcript of Teen Sings Chinese Opera
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F R I D A Y
, J U L Y 2 9 , 2 0 1 1
T H E W A S H I N G T O N E X A M I N E R
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20
P ERFORMING ARTS
ByTerence CheaThe AssociatedPress
Tyler Thompson is an unlikelystar in theworldof Chineseopera.
The black teenager fromOakland, Calif., has captivatedaudiences in the United States andChina with his ability to sing pitch-perfect Mandarin and perform theancientChinese artform.
“As soon as he opens his mouthand sings in Chinese, the Chineseare very surprised and then feel very proud of him,” said his musicteacher Sherlyn Chew. “When heputs on the costume, and all theacting, you can see that he’s prettygood.”
Tyler, 15, is a standout studentin Chew’s Oakland-based PurpleSilk Music Education program, which teaches children and youth
— mostly from low-income immi-grant families — how to sing andplaytraditionalChinese music. Theprogram’s GreatWall Youth Orches-tra& Chorus hasperformedaroundthe country.
At the World Children’s Festi- val in Washington in June, Tyler,
dressed in a black robeemblazoned withgolden dragons,got a standing
ovation when he performed as Jus-tice Bao, a famous Song Dynasty judge who fought government cor-ruption, from the Chinese classic“Bao Qing Tian.”
“The music is very beautiful,andit’s very passionate. You can hear it when it’s being played,” said Tyler,
a theater student at the OaklandSchool for the Arts. “It’s made me
want to know moreaboutthe worldoutside of America or California orOakland.”
David Lei, chairman of the Chi-nese PerformingArts FoundationinSan Francisco, has seen Tyler per-form several times andarranged tohave him sing at the opening of a
Chinese opera exhibit severalyearsago.
“It’s very authentic because hehits the tones just right, so youunderstand everything,” Lei said.“People just don’t expect an Afro-American kid to be doing it. It’sthe initial shock. There’s a sense of novelty.”
Tyler, who comes from a music-loving family, began learninghow tosing in Chinese a decade ago whenhe was a kindergartner in Chew’smusic class at Oakland’s LincolnElementary School, where about90 percent of students areAsian.
Chew quickly recognized Tyler’stalentand recruitedhim to join herPurple Silk music program, wherestudents learn to singChinesesongsand play traditional instrumentssuch as a two-string violincalled anerhu, a four-stringed luteknownas a
pipaand a bambooutecalleda dizi.“I really took a liking to him and
thought he hadquite a large range,”said Chew, who started the musicprogram at Oakland’s LaneyCollegein 1995. “He hears pitch very well,and his pronunciation of Chinesecharacters is very accurate.”
Black teen nds unusual talent in singing Chinese opera
NOAH BERGER/AP
Tyler Thompson has captivated audiences in the U.S. and China with his ability tosing pitch-perfect Mandarin. He plans to perform in China this summer.
By Marie GullardSpecial to The Washington Examiner
Film buffs no doubt have everyline of every character in the lm“Casablanca” committed to mem-ory. But,apartfromthe few bars of “As TimeGoes By”that Ilsa insistson humming toSam in Rick’s Cafe,how many of these die-hards areable tohum wholesegments ofthelm’s musical score?
“Casablanca” boasts asoundtrack written by MaxSteiner,the composer who gave Americanssuch masterpieces of orchestrallm scoring as “Gone With theWind” and “Now Voyager.” Oftenreferred to as “The Father of FilmMusic,” Steiner’s score for “KingKong” in 1933 dened a new era of dramatic lm scores.
Saturday night at Wolf Trap,conductor Emil de Cou will leadthe National Symphony Orchestrain a note-for-note, in-sync perfor-mance of Steiner’s “Casablanca”soundtrack. The love story will be shown simultaneously on largescreens in-house and on the lawn.
“There’s so much wonderfulAmericanmusic thatpeople shouldknow, but these [lm scores] arenot played often,” de Cou said.“I think it’s the best music of theAmerican 20th century.”
Here in itsdebutperformance atWolf Trap, Steiner’s original scor-ing of “Casablanca” (played along with the lm) is a new project of
John Goberman, who is probably best known as the creator of “Livefrom Lincoln Center,” now in its30th season on PBS.
“John has been doing this won-derful lm programming for the
past 15 years, if not more,” deCou continued. “Steiner’s scoreof ‘Casablanca’ is just incredible; with sophistication that you justdon’t hear that well in the [movie]theater.”
Emil de Cou would know. Nowthe NSO’s associate conductor,he was formerly conductor of theAmerican Ballet Theatre for eightseasons, performing in New Yorkas well as in national and interna-tional tours.
“[In] ballet conducting, there were always these great Russianscores of Tchaikovsky and Proko-ev,”he pointed out. “But America’s big contribution to 20th century
music is in lm; and these scoresare every bit as good as ballet oropera, or any incidental music.”
And, as if lm buffs needed anymoreconvincingof thetruth tohis
assertion, de Cou added, “Musicalscoring is like a hidden characterthat helps promote thestory; anditmakes all the difference to its suc-cess or lack of success.”
MUSIC
‘Play it Sam, Play As Time Goes By’ hits Wolf TrapONSTAGEA Symphonic Nightat the Movies:‘Casablanca’» Where: Wolf Trap NationalPark for the Performing Arts,
1645 Trap Road, Vienna» When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday» Info: $20 to $52,
877-WOLFTRAP (965-3872)
COURTESY PHOTO
The National Symphony Orchestra will play the soundtrack from the classic lm“Casablanca” while the movie is played on large screens simultaneously.
AROUND TOWN
Friday311: The alternative rock group
performs with Sublime with Rome. [6:30 p.m.JiffyLubeLive,7800Cellar DoorDrive, Bristow,Va.]
Baseball: The Washington Nation-als play the New York Mets . [7:05 p.m. Nationals Park, South Capitol Street SE]
Seven Miles to Freedom: AuthorJanet Halfmann reads the story of Robert Small’s journey to freedom. [11 a.m. African American Civil War Memorial,1925 Vermont AvenueNW]
U StreetHeartand Soul Tour: A foodtour of local restaurants andneigh- borhood history. [2:30p.m.D.C. Metro Food Tours, 10th and U StreetNW]
‘Sunny’: Thelm by Korean direc-tor Lee Joon Ik is screened. [6:30 p.m. KORUS House, 2320 Massachu-settsAvenueNW]
The Bigger Lights: The pop rockgroup performs withDivided byFri-dayand FourthQuarterComeback. [6 p.m. Jammin’ Java, 227 E. Maple Avenue,Vienna]
SaturdaySoccer: ManchesterUnited plays
FC Barcelona. [7 p.m. FedEx Field, 1600FedEx Way, Landover]
Christina Perri: The pop singer-songwriter performs. [7 p.m. 9:30Club,815 V StreetNW]
Still We Keep: A performance artinstallation on the themes of archi-tecture, structure, and story. [10a.m. National Building Museum, 401 F StreetNW]
A Blossoming Style: CuratorSumru Belger Krody discussesfourcenturies of Ottoman embroidery. [10:30 a.m. Textile Museum, 2320 S
Street NW]
Smithsonian Jazz MasterworksOrchestra: A small jazz group per-formance of the music of GerryMulligan. [7:30p.m. NationalMuseumof American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW]
Rate and offers current as of July 1, 2011 and are subject to change. Rate depends on amount borrowed and term. *Rate applies to online applications only. Higher rate will be assessed if you do not apply online.
Car LoansRenanced, New, & Used 2 .49
%APR *
ONLINE ONLY!12 to 60 months nancing for up to $70,000Payment example: $20,000 loan at 2.49% APR,60 monthly payments of approximately $356 eachRate available for ALL model years PenFed.org/CarDeal
866.386.7191
