Music as a bridge: U.S. opera singer and her "Zhiyin" friend in China united by music

The Star

For the U.S. and China, understanding begins with listening.   U.S. opera singer Carla Dirlikov Canales spoke with Xinhua about her friendship with the 94-year-old Chinese conductor Zheng Xiaoying.  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00 She sang it in Chinese and I sang it in French, but we both understood each other really well.

00:05 U.S. opera singer Karla Derlakov-Canales visited China in May 2023 as a U.S. arts envoy.

00:14 During her trip, Karla met Zheng Xiaoying, a respected Chinese conductor that she had

00:20 been admiring for long. It was also during the trip that Karla learned and was touched

00:25 by the Chinese word "xian," originally meaning a mate who knows music well, but also describes

00:32 close friends that can completely understand each other. She even wrote an article on the

00:37 New York Times about her "xian" friend in China. Music helps us to understand that.

00:43 This phrase of "xian" is such a powerful phrase. It's such an important example.

00:50 She's 94 years old. Not only for her accomplishments as a great conductor,

00:55 but as an educator. It's like she planted a seed. She is the seed to educate everybody and to bring

01:00 this tradition and to have it flourish. So I really was dreaming maybe one day I can meet her.

01:07 She welcomed me when I told her I was coming and we met and I just was like trying not to cry

01:13 because it was like meeting one of my heroes, you know.

01:16 [speaking Chinese]

01:18 So she sang it in Chinese and I sang it in French,

01:34 but we both understood each other really well.

01:36 [speaking Chinese]

01:38 [singing in Chinese]

01:40 [singing in Chinese]

01:42 [singing in Chinese]

01:44 [speaking Chinese]

01:46 [speaking Chinese]

01:48 [speaking Chinese]

01:50 (speaking in foreign language)

01:55 (speaking in foreign language)

01:59 (singing in foreign language)

02:05 (singing in foreign language)

02:09 (speaking in foreign language)

02:13 - I think so much of humanity and the essence,

02:32 the spirit, the soul of humanity can be expressed

02:36 in the arts and in particular in music.

02:39 The music helps us to understand that.

02:41 This phrase of Zhiyin is such a powerful phrase

02:45 and it's such an important example.

02:47 Certainly this is a moment where it's an important

02:49 bilateral relationship.

02:51 I feel that there's so much that can be gained

02:53 by learning from China.

02:55 And just as we are dreamers in America,

02:58 I believe that the Chinese people are dreamers.

03:00 And this brings me back to that sentence of why

03:02 it's so important for us to understand Chinese dreams.

03:06 And I would even say further why it's important for us

03:09 as Americans to dream with the Chinese

03:12 about what we can achieve together.

03:14 (singing in foreign language)

03:18 The State Department has offered me the chance

03:25 to be a part of this global music diplomacy initiative

03:29 and to return to my work in China,

03:32 which is so important to me,

03:34 through a project that I will do both virtually

03:37 and in person with China.

03:39 And this to me is a real dream come true.

03:42 I'll be able to continue working

03:44 with Maestro Zhang and Xiaomen.

03:46 There will be a series of online classes

03:49 in which not only myself, but other artists will participate.

03:53 And to me, a real gift to be able to continue this work,

03:59 continue to try to build the bridges,

04:01 and especially close to my heart,

04:03 continue my friendship with Maestro Zhang.

04:05 (gentle music)

04:08 (gentle music fades)

04:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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