Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

1964

Period

:

Contemporary

 

Zhang Zhao was a Chinese classical music composer who was born on December 12, 1920, in the city of Shanghai. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a family that was passionate about music. His father was a music teacher, and his mother was a talented singer. From a young age, Zhang Zhao showed a keen interest in music and began learning to play the piano and violin. Zhang Zhao's musical talent was recognized early on, and he was accepted into the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at the age of 16. He studied composition under the renowned composer He Luting and graduated in 1941. After graduation, he worked as a composer and music teacher in Shanghai. In 1949, Zhang Zhao moved to Beijing and became a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music. He continued to compose music and became known for his innovative style that blended traditional Chinese music with Western classical music. He was also a prolific composer, and his works include symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and operas. One of Zhang Zhao's most famous works is his opera "The White-Haired Girl," which he composed in 1945. The opera tells the story of a young peasant girl who is forced to work as a slave for a wealthy landlord. The girl is mistreated and abused, but she eventually escapes and becomes a revolutionary hero. The opera was a huge success and became one of the most popular operas in China. It was also adapted into a film in 1950. Another notable work by Zhang Zhao is his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1956. The symphony is a tribute to the Chinese people and their struggle for independence. It is a powerful and emotional work that combines elements of Chinese folk music with Western classical music. Zhang Zhao's music was not only popular in China but also gained international recognition. In 1982, he was invited to the United States to attend a concert of his music at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He was also invited to attend the International Society for Contemporary Music festival in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1983. Zhang Zhao continued to compose music until his death in 1987. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world. He is remembered as one of the most important composers in Chinese classical music history and a pioneer in blending traditional Chinese music with Western classical music.

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