By the Water’s Edge — Songs of the Orient
Ying Huang × Yingjia Xue
Minnan Grand Theatre · Xiamen · October 3, 2022
Overview
On October 3, 2022, soprano Ying Huang and pianist Yingjia Xue presented the recital By the Water’s Edge — Songs of the Orient at the Minnan Grand Theatre, Xiamen.
The program interwove Western and Eastern masterpieces to explore the poetic symbolism of water and love — flowing, reflective, and ever-changing. From Handel and Puccini to Qing Zhu, Ding Shande, and Lin Jiaqing, the evening traced the fluid dialogue between European lyricism and Chinese poetry, between passion and serenity, between memory and rebirth.
Through Huang’s crystalline, emotive voice and Xue’s evocative pianism, the concert offered a seamless journey across cultures, where Baroque devotion, Romantic elegance, and Eastern tenderness met in the ripples of sound.
Part I — Western Inspirations
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) — Endless Pleasure, Endless Love (from Semele)
Pietro Antonio Cesti (1623–1669) — Intorno all’idol mio (from Orontea)
Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741–1816) — Plaisir d’amour
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963) — Les Chemins de l’amour
Claude Debussy (1862–1918) — Arabesque No. 1 in E Major, L.66 — Yingjia Xue, Piano Solo
Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) — Un bel dì vedremo (from Madama Butterfly)
Léo Delibes (1836–1891) — Les filles de Cadix
Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) — Quando me’n vo (from La Bohème)
Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) — Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (from La Rondine)
Johann Strauss II (1825–1899) — Frühlingsstimmen (Voices of Spring) Waltz, Op.410
Part II — Songs of the Orient
Xi Qiming (b. 1949) — The Wutong Tree (Wu Tong Shu)
Ding Shande (1911–1995) — My Lover Sent Me Sunflowers (Ai Ren Song Wo Xiang Ri Kui)
Uyghur Folk Song — A Cup of Wine (Yi Bei Mei Jiu)
Chen Tianhe (1911–1955) — In the Mountains (Shan Zhong)
Ding Shande (1911–1995) — Mayila (Ma Yi La)
Ding Shande (1911–1995) — Piano Suite “Spring Journey,” Op.1 (Chun Zhi Lü) — Yingjia Xue, Piano Solo
Liu Qing (b. 1946) — Song of the Yue Boatman (Yue Ren Ge)
Huang Yongxi (1919–2004) — Melancholy (Huai Nian Qu)
Zhang Rui (b. 1981) — Song (Ge)
Lin Jiaqing (b. 1971) — By the Water’s Edge (Zai Shui Yi Fang)
Qing Zhu (1893–1959) — I Live at the Head of the Yangtze River (Wo Zhu Chang Jiang Tou)
Gallery
Artists
Soprano — Ying Huang
Internationally acclaimed lyric coloratura soprano, Ying Huang is recognized for her radiant voice and refined artistry. She has appeared at major opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Musikverein, and Royal Opera of Belgium, performing leading roles from Le Nozze di Figaro to The Peony Pavilion. As the first Chinese singer to star in an opera film (Madama Butterfly), she continues to be celebrated for her expressive interpretations bridging Western operatic tradition and Chinese art song.
Piano — Yingjia Xue
Yingjia Xue, winner of the Paris Scriabin International Piano Competition, is known for his poetic tone and exceptional sensitivity as a collaborator. A professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Central Conservatory of Music (Xiamen Campus), Xue’s performances are noted for their refined phrasing and deep understanding of vocal repertoire.
Venue
Minnan Grand Theatre, Xiamen
Situated by the sea in Xiamen, the Minnan Grand Theatre is known for its modern acoustics and elegant architecture. The concert’s theme — water as the mirror of emotion — found a natural home in this coastal setting, where the sound seemed to flow seamlessly between voice, piano, and space.