陈燮阳 | 指挥

著名指挥家，“上海文学艺术杰出贡献奖”获得者，国家一级指挥。从上海音乐学院毕业后，曾任上海芭蕾舞团管弦乐队常任指挥、中央歌剧院院长。1982年他应邀在美国阿思本音乐节指挥音乐节乐团，大获成功。1984年出任上海交响乐团团长，1986年被任命为上海交响乐团音乐总监，成为中国文化发展史上第一位文艺院团的总监。1985年以来，陈燮阳先后赴苏联、日本、意大利、美国、英国、瑞士、韩国、朝鲜、泰国、新加坡、澳大利亚、德国、丹麦、奥地利、法国、西班牙、俄罗斯等国家和港、澳、台地区，指挥本团或当地著名乐团举办音乐会，均受盛赞。陈燮阳曾率中央民族乐团赴奥地利、德国、丹麦，在世界著名的维也纳金色大厅和柏林爱乐大厅，以及其他城市音乐厅举办中国新年音乐会，赴美国参加“中华文化美国行”巡回演出。他带领上海交响乐团2003年在美国11个城市的巡演、2004“中法文化年”的欧洲巡演。特别是2004年6月20日，为庆祝上海交响乐团建团125周年，由他指挥上交在柏林爱乐大厅举行的庆典音乐会，获得巨大成功。

陈燮阳现为苏州交响乐团音乐总监、上海交响乐团名誉音乐总监、中国国家交响乐团特邀指挥、第十届全国政协委员、上海市政协委员、上海音乐家协会副主席、中国音乐家协会理事和上海交响乐爱好者协会会长。

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CHEN Xieyang | Conductor

Renowned conductor CHEN Xieyang has received the decoration "Shanghai literature and Art Outstanding Contribution Award", the national first-grade conductor. After graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, CHEN was appointed resident conductor of the Shanghai Ballet Orchestra, and served as Director of the Central Opera House in Beijing. In 1982 CHEN was invited to conduct the Aspen Festival Orchestra in the United States. Following his success there he was appointed the President of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. In 1986 CHEN became appointed Music Director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra – the first music director of any performing groups in Chinese history. During his tenure at the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, he took the orchestra on an 11-city tour in the United States in 2003 and in the following year to Europe for the Sino-French Culture Year. On the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, he conducted the orchestra in the Berlin Philharmonie to great acclaim.

He has conducted orchestras both in China and abroad, including the USA, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, the DPRK, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. He has led the China National Symphony Orchestra on its tours in Austria, Denmark and Germany, as well as the "Chinese Culture in America" Festival at the Lincoln Center. His concerts at the Großer Saal Musikverein of Vienna and the Lincoln Center of New York have won enormous successes.

CHEN is Honorary Music Director of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and principal Guest Conductor of China National Symphony Orchestra. CHEN has served as a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference, vice chairman of the Shanghai Musicians' Association, member of the Standing Committee of the China Musicians' Association, and chairman of the Shanghai Symphonic Music Lovers' Society.

本场音乐会既是陈燮阳艺术生涯的纪念，也是一次对法国作曲大师乔治·比才的全面致敬，本场汇集了两首比才的经典作品。以他最为著名的歌剧《卡门》、戏剧配乐《阿莱城的姑娘》以及早期创作的《C大调第一号交响曲》为核心，全面展现这位天才作曲家的音乐才华。比才的音乐因其充满戏剧性的旋律、精致的配器和浓厚的地域色彩而闻名，他的作品跨越了歌剧、交响乐、钢琴作品和舞台剧配乐等多个领域，是浪漫主义晚期音乐的重要代表之一，为世界留下了诸多珍贵的音乐遗产。

比才出生于一个音乐世家，父亲是声乐教师，母亲则擅长钢琴。良好的家庭环境使他自幼展现出非凡的音乐天赋。他9岁时便进入巴黎音乐学院，在这里，他接受了系统而严格的音乐教育。在校期间，比才表现出惊人的才华，尤其在钢琴与作曲方面屡获殊荣，还受到过李斯特的赞赏。19岁那年，他凭借康塔塔作品《克洛维丝与克洛蒂尔德》获得了罗马大奖，这一荣誉使他前往意大利深造，也为他奠定了职业作曲家的基础。然而，比才的音乐生涯并非一帆风顺。尽管他天赋异禀，但他的大部分作品在当时并未得到足够的认可。法国乐坛在当时被瓦格纳的影响所笼罩，比才的作品，尤其是那些融合了民间音乐与异域风情的作品，并未迎合当时严肃音乐界的口味，这让他的职业生涯充满波折。 

比才虽然英年早逝，但他的作品却随着时间的流逝愈加散发出永恒的光辉。歌剧《卡门》如今被誉为西方音乐史上最伟大的作品之一，而《阿莱城的姑娘》组曲和第一号交响曲也成为音乐会上常演的经典曲目。比才的音乐以其动人的旋律、丰富的情感表达和鲜明的戏剧性，为世人留下了无尽的艺术享受。

比才的歌剧《卡门》作为世界上最受欢迎的歌剧之一，以其大胆的情感表达和鲜明的西班牙风情闻名于世。《卡门》自1875年首演以来，凭借其浓烈的戏剧冲突和鲜明的西班牙风格，成为歌剧史上的不朽之作。比才将剧中富有代表性的段落重新编排为《卡门第一组曲》，将歌剧的精华凝聚于短短的五个乐章之中。无论是开篇如同号角般的“前奏曲”与“阿拉贡舞曲”，还是活力四射的“斗牛士之歌”，都散发着浓郁的戏剧色彩与感染力。虽然从未去过西班牙，比才在创作《卡门》对西班牙生活和音乐的描绘，以及他对那里吉普赛人的理解，却是本能而真实的。他在歌剧中巧妙运用了西班牙民间舞曲节奏和旋律片段，使其作品不仅具有戏剧张力，还带有鲜明的民族特色。

比才投入了极大心血《卡门》却在首演时遭遇了极大的争议。当时的观众难以接受卡门这一形象，她是一个不受传统道德束缚、追求自由与独立的女性，这与19世纪法国社会对女性的传统期待相去甚远。卡门在歌剧中放荡不羁、挑衅权威的形象被批评为“道德堕落”，而剧情的暴力与悲剧结局也让许多观众感到不适。令人遗憾的是，比才在首演几个月后便因心脏病去世，未能见证《卡门》后来在全球范围内的大获成功。

如果说《卡门》体现了比才在歌剧创作上的成熟与大胆，那么《C大调第一号交响曲》则展示了他在青年时期便已具备的深厚创作功底。比才创作这部交响曲时仅17岁，却已展现出令人惊叹的音乐才能。尽管当时的比才尚未涉足歌剧创作，但这部交响曲已展现出他对古典结构的驾驭能力和动人的旋律表达。这部作品不仅是比才早期创作的巅峰之作，也成为他音乐生涯的重要起点。这部交响曲结构严谨、旋律优美，既有古典主义的清晰逻辑，又充满浪漫主义的抒情表达。第一乐章“有活力的快板”以欢快而跳跃的旋律揭开序幕，充满青春的朝气；第二乐章“柔板”以温暖而柔美的旋律带来一片宁静，展现了比才抒情性的创作天赋；终曲“活泼的快板”则以欢快明亮的节奏将整部作品推向高潮，充分体现了比才对乐队配器的细腻处理。这部作品不仅展示了比才年轻时的创作才华，也为他日后的音乐创作奠定了坚实的基础。 

《阿莱城的姑娘》原为剧作家阿尔封斯· 都德的同名戏剧配乐，比才巧妙地将南法的田园风情与戏剧张力融为一体，以乡村生活为背景，描绘了一段悲剧性的爱情故事。尽管剧作本身的成功有限，比才的音乐却成为经典，后来提炼出两组管弦乐组曲，使之成为舞台剧音乐改编的典范，同时也是音乐会上广受喜爱的作品。第一组曲的开篇“前奏曲”，在管弦乐的深沉旋律中展现出一种戏剧般的宏大气势。“小步舞曲”则轻盈优雅，带有古典舞曲的韵味。“小慢板”用弦乐缓缓铺陈，充满诗意的抒情色彩，宛如乡间黄昏的柔和景致。最后的“钟乐”以模仿钟声的音型为特点，展现出比才独特的配器手法，音色明亮而极富动感。第二组曲中的“田园曲”以悠扬的旋律描绘出南法乡村的宁静美景，而“间奏曲”和“小步舞曲”则以清新脱俗的风格，将观众带入充满诗意的画面之中。终曲“法兰多拉舞曲”更是高潮迭起，以欢快的节奏和热烈的气氛将音乐会推向尾声。这段舞曲源自法国传统民间舞蹈，具有鲜明的节日气息，堪称全曲的亮点。一个有趣的细节是，比才在创作这些配乐时正值事业低谷。他为这部舞台剧倾注了极大的心血，但其戏剧本身未能获得观众的热烈反响。比才却凭借这组音乐再次向世人证明了自己的才华，为后世留下了一份珍贵的音乐遗产。 

Tonight's concert celebrates the extraordinary career of Maestro CHEN Xieyang, while paying homage to one of the great French composers, Georges Bizet. The program highlights three of Bizet's most iconic works: the fiery and dramatic Carmen, the pastoral and theatrical L'ARLÉSIENNE, and his youthful Symphony No. 1 in C Major. Bizet's music is known for its dramatic intensity, exquisite orchestration, and rich regional flavour. His work spans across genres including opera, symphonic works, piano compositions, and theatrical music.

Born into a musical family, Bizet was destined for greatness. His father, a vocal teacher, and his pianist mother nurtured his talent from a young age, and by the age of nine, he was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire. There, he excelled in piano and composition, receiving numerous accolades and praise from figures like Franz Liszt. At 19, he won the prestigious Prix de Rome, which allowed him to study in Italy and laid the groundwork for his career. Despite his exceptional talent, Bizet's music struggled to gain recognition during his lifetime. The French musical scene of the 19th century was heavily influenced by Wagner. Bizet's works often incorporated folk elements and exotic styles, which did not align with the prevailing tastes of the era. His career, while marked by moments of brilliance, was fraught with challenges.  

Though Bizet's life was tragically short—he died at the age 37—his legacy has endured. CARMEN is now celebrated as one of the greatest operas in Western music, while the L'ARLÉSIENNE suites and Symphony No. 1 have become staples of the concert repertoire. His music continues to captivate audiences with its striking melodies, emotional depth, and dramatic flair.

CARMEN is perhaps Bizet's most famous work, celebrated for its bold emotional expression and vivid Spanish character. Premiered in 1875, the opera shocked audiences with its passionate themes and the unapologetic independence of its heroine, Carmen. Bizet later arranged and created the CARMEN Suite No. 1, which encapsulates the opera's highlights in five dynamic movements. From the commanding "Prélude" to the lively "Aragonais"e and the exhilarating "Les Toréadors", the suite showcases Bizet's ability to blend theatrical drama with unforgettable melodies.  Interestingly, Bizet never visited Spain, though but his portrayal of Spanish life and music, and his understanding of the gypsies there, is instinctive and real. Drawing on folk dance rhythms like the habanera and seguidilla, he created a soundscape that is as dramatic as it is culturally evocative.  

Despite its brilliance, Carmen was met with controversy upon its debut. The character of Carmen—a free-spirited woman unbound by societal norms—clashed with the traditional expectations of 19th-century French society. Carmen's rebellious, provocative persona was criticized as 'immoral', and the opera's violent and tragic ending unsettled many audiences. Tragically, Bizet passed away shortly after the premiere, never witnessing the global acclaim Carmen would later achieve.

In contrast to the mature sophistication of CARMEN, Bizet's Symphony No. 1 in C Major reflects the exuberance of youth. Written when he was just 17, the symphony demonstrates his remarkable grasp of classical form and melodic invention. The symphony is a pinnacle of Bizet's early creations and a significant milestone in his musical career. Its structure is meticulous, its melodies beautiful, combining the logical clarity of Classicism with the lyrical expression of Romanticism. The opening movement, "Allegro vivo", brims with vitality, while the second movement, "Adagio", offers a serene and poetic interlude. The finale, "Allegro vivace", concludes the symphony with a burst of energy and rhythmic joy, showcasing Bizet's talent for orchestration and melodic charm. This symphony, though written early in his career, remains one of his finest creations.  

L'ARLÉSIENNE, originally composed as incidental music for Alphonse Daudet's play of the same name. Bizet seamlessly blends the pastoral and dramatic tension of southern France to depict a tragic love story set against the backdrop of rural life. Despite the limited success of the play itself, Bizet's music became a classic. Bizet later extracted parts of the music to create two orchestral suites, which have become concert hall favourites.

The First Suite opens with the "Prélude", its profound orchestral themes conveying grandeur and drama. The light and elegant "Menuet" carries the charm of a classical dance, while the poetic "Adagietto", performed by strings, evokes the gentle beauty of a countryside sunset. The final movement, "Carillon", imitates bell chimes with unique orchestral effects, showcasing Bizet's distinctive orchestration skills. The Second Suite begins with the "Pastorale", a serene and flowing melody painting a tranquil rural scene. The "Intermezzo" and "Menuet" offer fresh and refined styles, immersing the audience in a world of poetic imagery. The suite concludes with the "Farandole", a dynamic and festive dance inspired by traditional French folk traditions, bringing the performance to a jubilant finale.  Interestingly, Bizet composed this music during a period of professional struggle. Although the play itself did not achieve significant success, Bizet's music once again demonstrated his extraordinary talent, leaving a timeless legacy for the world to cherish.