7 February 2014
New disc from Shu-Cheen Yu
It is my great pleasure and absolute delight to see “Lotus Dreams” come to reality.
Since I recorded Lotus Moon, Willow Spirit Song and Serenade with ABC Classics, many music lovers have suggested that they would like to hear me sing Lieder and other styles of repertoire. This CD is a collection of my favourite songs and ballads.
Interestingly, my love affair with art songs started at very early age. I was born into a musical family and both of my parents were involved with local opera companies in Shanxi Province. My father was a fine musician. He was broadminded and he wanted me to learn Western music notations and solfege (do-re-mi...) to expose me to a different music style.
Some of the first Western songs I heard were Brahms’ Lullaby, Schubert’s An Die Musik (Ode to Music) and Danny Boy, the Irish air. During the Cultural Revolution period, Western music was banned in China. But these peaceful, haunting and beautiful tunes stayed with me always.
After the Cultural Revolution, following my graduation from Shanxi Province Conservatorium of Music in Peking Opera Art & Performance,
I became a Chinese and Oriental folk song specialist. I was a principle artist with the prestigious China National Oriental Song and Dance Company and was widely regarded as one of the best folk singers in China. As a result I performed regularly on China’s top radio and TV programs. In addition I entertained visiting Heads
of State and foreign dignitaries.
Whilst I was very busy with Oriental folk music, the haunting tunes of Western art songs were never far from me. They keep appearing in my head from here and there, now and then. They were like a lovely neighbour: I would hear them occasionally but I did not live with them.
In 1987, I came to Australia and finally had the wonderful privilege of learning Western style of singing at the Opera Studio of Sydney University. The rest is history.
The beautiful songs on this CD are a reflection to my artistic journey. They have all played an important part in my life. Each of them means so much to me and is so dear to my heart.
Through music like this we celebrate humanity and the great world cultural heritage that we enjoy. We are fortunate indeed to have such a breadth of musical activities to appreciate and experience so freely today.
Thank you for your interest in Lotus Dreams
and thank you too for allowing me to share my gratitude with you. May this divine music give us all much peace and joy.
With blessings! Shu-Cheen Yu
Further reading
Lotus Dreams
Since the release of Shu-Cheen's other CDs, Lotus Moon, Willow Spirit Song and Serenade with ABC Classics, many music lovers have suggested that they would like to hear her sing Lieder and other styles of repertoire. This CD is a collection of her favourite songs and ballads.
Shu-Cheen Yu
Born in China, Shu-Cheen Yu began her career as a child star in Chinese traditional opera. Her early career in China, and for the last 15 years in Australia have been equally successful.
