A different sound of music

Gong Linna's performance of the song The Lord in the Clouds at the Bang on a Can in New York concert wins rave reviews.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Her performance of the song, The Lord in the Clouds, composed by Zollitsch and the founders of Bang on a Can won rave reviews globally.

The New York Times said that "whether belting, keening or murmuring, insinuating or girlish, Ms Gong is a star".

The song is also a part of Zollitsch's latest work, which is inspired by famous Chinese poet Qu Yuan's Chu Ci Anthology.

Speaking of her husband's work, Gong, who met Zollitsch in Beijing in 2002, says: "As a foreigner, he reads more Chinese books than I do. And he often surprises me with his bold musical ideas."

A versatile singer since childhood, Gong, who studied folk music at the Chinese Conservatory of Music in Beijing, held her first solo concert in 1999 with the China Central Nationalities Orchestra, China's most prestigious traditional music orchestra.

In 2000, she won the Chinese National Singing Competition and became a popular figure.

"But I was not happy because all the singers then were lip-synching," she says.

Recalling an embarrassing moment onstage, she says: "Once, when I was performing at a gala in my beautiful gown and heels, I suddenly forgot the lyrics.

"I then tried to calm myself down, smile and pretended to sing.

"But I felt so ashamed when the audience began to applaud at the end of my performance. Nobody knew that I had just been counting numbers rather than singing."

Zollitsch has an opinion of her beyond her humility and down-to-earth attitude.

He says: "When we first met, I was impressed by her voice.

"At the beginning, I challenged her a lot－like making her sing with live bands instead of karaoke tapes.

"The songs I wrote are not easy to sing, but she soon found her voice and also has independent ideas."

In 2004, the couple moved to Berlin and had two children there in 2005 and 2008.

Now based in Beijing with her family, Gong says that she spends two hours every morning harnessing qi to maintain her breath.

"I am full of energy when I am singing, and I want to pass on this energy to the audiences, and especially I want younger kids enjoy this kind of music."

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

7:30 pm, May 20-22. Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, 9 Tianqiao Nandajie (south street), Xicheng district. 400-635-3355.