Integrating bel canto singing techniques in performing selected Chinese Art Song based on its classical poetry

This creative work dissertation focuses on the performer as a co-creator in perfoming selected Chinese art songs based on its classical poetry by integrating Bel Canto singing techniques. By reviewing literature and performances, there were problems with performers' unclear pronunciation and inability to accurately express the charm when the singer use Bel Canto singing techniques. There are two objectives. The first objective leads to two sub-objectives. The first sub-objective is to compare the similarities and differences between Italian and Chinese in Bel Canto singing, and the second sub-objective is to apply the techniques of Yi Zi Xing Qiang and Run Qiang to perform Chinese art songs based on its classical poetry. The second objective is to perform the selected repertoire. This creative work dissertation is based on practice-led research, with the practice process as the research process and the results presented in the form of two recitals. The results suggest that the author addressed the two performance challenges by interpreting and performing the selected songs through a cocreative approach, considering factors such as language contrast, timbre control, pronunciation and intonation adjustments, music score analysis, and the application of singing symbols. Integrating Bel Canto singing techniques in performing Chinese art songs based on its classical poetry has become a challenging attempt, which helps to enrich and expand the singing methods of Chinese art songs, assist non-native Chinese singers to learn to perform Chinese art songs, thus contributing to the development and inheritance of vocal performance, and providing new ideas and approaches for the exchange and integration of traditional culture and modern art.