Performance to pay tribute to national anthem composer

Songs of Nie Er, a choral drama production by the China Conservatory of Music, will be staged at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Oct 18 and 19.

Under the batons of conductors Li Xincao and Jin Ye, students and teachers of the conservatory will perform together in the production, which tells the story of Nie Er, the famous composer who wrote March of the Volunteers, the Chinese national anthem. The chorus of the China National Symphony Orchestra will also join the performance.

The songs to be featured in the production are all adapted from music composed by Nie Er, including the Song of Graduation, the Song of Newspaper Boys and his best-known work, March of the Volunteers.

Born in Kunming, Yunnan province, Nie Er, whose real name was Nie Shouxin, is often referred to as "the people's musician". He created a series of musical works, including more than 20 songs, music for movies, theatrical productions and one opera. His music reflected working class life and struggles.

Since its premiere in 2024, the production has been staged 15 times in Beijing, Lanzhou, Gansu province and Kunming.

For this upcoming round of performances, Huang Xunguo, a professor in the opera department of the China Conservatory of Music, will play the role of Nie in the production.