Deputy Chairman of European Choral Association conducts PKU Choir

PEIKING UNIVERSITY, CHINA — On April 30 and May 1,
Jean-Marie Puissant, deputy chairman of European Choral Association
and conductor of French National Youth Choir, provided a two-day
chorus guidance for Peking University (PKU) Student Choir at
Yiyuan. Mr. Puissant heaped praise on the professional chorus
quality and high singing standard of these student singers, who
also benefited a lot from his choir concept with a global outlook.

Jean-Marie Puissant’s chorus conducting videos have been
broadcasted on television in many countries. He served as judge on
invitation at many international chorus competitions, making an
international reputation. In 2011, he will conduct several big
concerts in Portugal, Lebanon, China, Estonia, Russia, and so on,
communicating with the local choirs. It was a pleasure for PKU
Student Choir to communicate with Mr. Puissant.

Mr. Puissant brought a French song Notre Père for PKU Student
Choir. He instructed the French lyrics word by word. On hearing the
expressive and integrated audition, he said emotionally, “How I
wish my French friends and audience could hear this! They would of
course be touched like me.”

Mr. Puissant and the choir practiced several foreign chorus
works during the two-day communication. During the rehearsal of
Agnus Dei, a Latin chorus work, students were greatly inspired in
the backgrounds, pronunciation and emotional expression under Mr.
Puissant`s conduct. When practicing Trois Chansons Ⅲ – Yver, vous
n`estes qu`un villain, Mr. Puissant required slight French tone
changes. Deeply impressed by the choir’s quick response and vivid
performance, Mr. Puissant sighed, “So smart of you all! You can so
quickly catch my requirements on dynamics, pronunciation and tone
that the rehearsal will be very efficient without obstacles.” When
it came to Moon Light, Mr. Puissant mentioned that this song,
written by Debussy, had baffled many French choirs all this time.
Hence, PKU Student Choir’s successful performance showed their
higher singing level. He attributed all the aspects of their
performance – the beautiful timbre, mellifluous harmonies, rich
emotions and resilient techniques – to their tacit cooperation,
“Chorus performers should have this valuable teamwork quality,
knowing to perform one’s own characters with listening and
understanding.”