The Nightingale and the Rose
Meigui (Rose) Zhang
Debut Soprano Recital — Concert Review & Highlights
Overview
On 18 September 2021, rising Met Opera soprano Meigui (Rose) Zhang launched her first national solo recital in China. Framed as “The Nightingale and the Rose,” the program blended opera arias, German Lieder, French mélodie, and Chinese art songs—offering an intimate portrait of a young artist whose voice “floats through the space, creating an extraordinary, layered beauty.” (OperaWire)
Program
Part I
- Mozart: Voi avete un cor fedele, K.217
- Kazakh folk song: Swallow
- Eva Dell’Acqua: Villanelle — Swallow (dedicated to Prof. Zhou Xiaoyan)
- Reynaldo Hahn: À Chloris; Le printemps
- Bellini: “Casta Diva” (from Norma)
Intermission
Part II
- Richard Strauss: Ständchen, Op.17; Ich trage meine Minne, Op.32/1; Ich schwebe, Op.42/2; Cäcilie, Op.27/2
- Ding Shande: The Pine Trees on the Mountain Are Green; Sunflower from My Lover; When Do Locust Flowers Bloom; Lovely Little Rose; I Miss My Mom; Maira
- Bright Sheng: “I am like the flower” (from Dream of the Red Chamber)
- Gounod: “Je veux vivre” (from Roméo et Juliette)
Education & Outreach
Vocal Masterclass — “The Nightingale and the Rose”
September 17, 2021 · 19:00–20:30 — Guangming Culture & Arts Center, Concert Hall
Prof. Meigui Zhang led an open session on vocal technique, repertoire style, and stage craft, including 1-to-1 coaching and Q&A—demonstrating the project’s commitment to audience development and vocal pedagogy.
Gallery
Artistic Statement
The recital title evokes two threads in Zhang’s artistry: the nightingale’s clarity (coloratura brightness, textual transparency) and the rose’s fragrance (warmth of timbre, lyrical bloom). The set pairs cornerstone repertoire with Chinese art songs—championing national voice literature on a modern international platform.
Credits
Presented by Guangming Culture & Arts Center.
Piano/Artistic Coach: Prof. Fugen Wei.