“Music consoles the soul, love lights up life”
—Shanghai Grand Theatre in the wake of Sichuan Earthquake

By Emilie Wang, Assistant to President, Foreign Affairs, Shanghai Grand Theatre
Photos by Shao Wenjia

On the afternoon of 12 May 08, at 14:28 Beijing time (06:28 GMT), an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale hit Sichuan Province, a mountainous region in Western China. Neighboring provinces such as Ganshu and Shanxi also received extensive damage and continuous aftershocks. By 7 Jun 08, the death toll stood at 69,134 with another 17,681 still missing.

The massive earthquake has shocked the world; however, the unity and voluntary efforts across China has touched everyone even more. Shanghai Grand Theatre (SGT) and its friends from home and abroad join the nation’s efforts to support Sichuan not only by making financial donations but also by leveraging the healing power of art and music.

Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, artistic affiliate of Shanghai Grand Theatre Arts Group, prepared special encores at their 08-09-Season-Opening Concert on 16 May 08 at SGT to show appreciation for the rescue heroes and reinforce the spirit of unity. SGT also donated all the ticket income of the concert to the earthquake-hit areas.

On 18 May 08, Yu Dan, a renowned scholar in China was invited to give a lecture at SGT’s Arts Open Day* for Qunqu Opera, which was followed by her book signing event. Yu encouraged the audience to support the ongoing relief activities during her lecture and donated all the money from the book-selling to Sichuan together with the book trader.            *  “Arts Open Day”, part of SGT’s Arts Education Programme, allows the public to enjoy various free performances and lectures. Ballet San Jose from the Silicon Valley visited Shanghai on a trip of goodwill and cultural exchange covering 8 Chinese cities and gave 3 performances at SGT from 22–24 May 08. Artistic/Executive Director Dennis Nahat emailed SGT right after the earthquake showing his concerns and expressing the will of the Ballet to console the Chinese people in mourning through art. Their premier performance in Shanghai was thus turned into an Arts Open Day for Ballet, with Mr Nahat and members of the Ballet introducing to the audience the ABCs of ballet before the actual programme Carmina Burana. At her SGT concert with the Trondheim Soloists (TS) on 25 May 08, Anne-Sophie Mutter overwhelmed Shanghai audience once again with her exquisite playing and sophisticated artistry, but the most unforgettable moment of the evening was when she performed Air on a G String by Johann Sebastian Bach with the TS artists as the encore. “The piece is devoted to the memory of the many lives lost in the Sichuan earthquake, this is our prayer for them”, said the violin virtuoso. Deeply saddened by the tragedy, she also donated her Shanghai concert fee to the International Red Cross for the relief work. The young members of the Juilliard Orchestra together with three outstanding Chinese artists: conductor Zhang Xian, bass-baritone Shen Yang and pianist Conrad Tao brought refreshing dynamism to SGT by their 2 performances. At the beginning of the first concert on 4 Jun 08, Dr. Joseph W. Polisi, President of the Juilliard School introduced the special programme Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber to the audience and suggested all to refrain from clapping at the end of the playing. The audience took his suggestion and offered a moment of silence to the earthquake victims. Music can offer the best consolation to the soul, and generate hope that is crucial in the face of disaster. SGT will continue its efforts in sending out messages of consolation and hope to those in need. Our hearts go out to the people in Sichuan and we firmly believe that a better life is in store for them.