Cai Chengyu Explained

Cai Chengyu
Caption:Chengyu in 2019
Native Name:蔡程昱
Birth Date:17 January 1998
Birth Place:Suzhou, Anhui, China
Other Names:Cai High C
Education:Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Occupation:Opera singer (tenor)
Module:
Child:yes
T:蔡程昱
S:蔡程昱
P:Cài Chéngyù

Cai Chengyu (; born January 17, 1998) is a Chinese operatic tenor. He is known for participating in Hunan TV's singing variety show Super-Vocal where he first gained attention and recognition for becoming one of the top 6 leading singers in 2018.[1] [2] Cai joined Decca Records in 2019 and released his first solo EP Cai Chengyu in 2021.[3] Cai made his opera debut as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni produced by Shanghai Opera House in 2020 and his debut at National Centre for the Performing Arts as Camille de Rosillon in The Merry Widow in 2023.

Cai obtained his bachelor's and master's degree from Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2021 and 2024 respectively.

Personal life

Cai grew up in Suzhou, Anhui, China and attended Sucheng No.1 High School.[4] In his last music class in high school, he performed "Heroes' Song" (Chinese: 好汉歌) at his classmates' invitation. Impressed by Cai's talent, his music teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in music.[1] [5] A year later in 2015, he successfully made to the Department of Vocal Music and Opera of Shanghai Conservatory of Music with the fourth best grades nationwide.[4] [6]

Prior to his debut on Super-Vocal, Cai has participted in Shanghai Conservatory of Music production of Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Carmina Burana, etc. Cai studied under baritone Wang Kaiwei and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2021 at top of the class. He was one of the three students in the class who were recommended to SHCM master’s admission with exemption of Nationwide Master's Program Unified Admissions Examination[7] and earned his master’s degree in 2024.[8]

Singing career

In 2018, Cai participated in Hunan TV singing variety show Super-Vocal. He made his debut by performing "Ah! mes amis", one of the well-known arias from the opera "La fille du régiment". Later in the competition, he has been continuously improving and finally made to the top 6 leading singers in Super-Vocal for the year of 2018.[1] [2] [9]

In February 2019, he was invited to participate in Hunan TV singing competition Singer together with other finalists from Super-Vocal and achieved the third place in the Final.[10] In November 2019, Cai joined Decca Records and teamed up with other three vocalists as the new bel canto ensemble Super Vocal. In the same month, on the 25th Anniversary of Riverdance, Cai released a Mandarin version of the show’s principle song Lift The Wings feat. Bill Whelan.[11]

On 24th January, Cai performed Ode to the Yellow River in 2020 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala. In March 2020, Cai participated in Singer: Year of the Hits as a member of Super Vocal. In July 2020, Cai played Don Ottavio in the concert version of opera Don Giovanni produced by Shanghai Opera House. In December 2020, Cai was invited to perform at the Yellow Lounge China Grand Opening.[12]

In January 2021, Cai released his first solo EP Cai Chengyu with Decca Records and held his first recital at Shanghai Concert Hall. On January 31, 2022, Cai participated in the 2022 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala.

In May 2023, Cai played Alfredo in the opera La Traviata co-produced by Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Theatre Kiel. The opera was also invited to the 2023 China Opera Festival in Hangzhou. In October 2023, Cai made his debut at National Centre for the Performing Arts as Camille de Rosillon in The Merry Widow.

In 2024/25 season, Cai will stage in Don Giovanni co-produced by Shanghai Opera House and Shanghai International Arts Festival, and Die Fledermaus produced by National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Discography

Singles

YearTitleOriginal TitleNote
2023Amore Mio, Dormi Bene星月无尽
A Wind from the South有风自南Theme song for Guangzhou Literature Night
2022Building the Dreams筑梦Theme song for Xinhua News Agency reporting group for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games
Qu Yuan's Song屈子吟From Henan TV Adventure of The Dragon Boat Festival
Fairy Sea仙海City theme song for Yantai
2021Like Lights with Shadows像光陪影子一样Cover of Love Changes Everything from the musical Aspects of Love
Set Out出发
2019Lift the WingsLift the Wingsfeat. Bill Whelan, Chinese theme song commemorating 25th Anniversary of Riverdance
Original Aspiration初心Xinhua News Agency theme song for 98th Anniversary of the founding of Chinese Communist Party
Journey征程Xinhua News Agency theme song commemorating 100th Anniversary of May Fourth Movement
That's it那就这样吧NetEase "Remake of Youth", cover Power Station

Theatre and Concert

Opera/Operetta

YearTitleRoleProducer
2020Don Giovanni (Concert)Don OttavioShanghai Opera House
2023La TraviataAlfredo GermontShanghai Conservatory of Music, Theatre Kiel
The Merry WidowCamille de RosillonNational Centre for the Performing Arts

Recital

Others

For the concert tour dedicated for the variety show Super-Vocal, please see Super-Vocal.

8% Year82% Title10% Location
2019"Memory · Nostalgia" Guangzhou Liao Changyong ConcertGuangzhou
2020Opera Selection Ensemble ConcertShanghai
A Hundred Years of Chinese Artistic Songs ConcertShanghai
2020-2021The Long March SymphonyShanghai
2021Beijing Great Wall ConcertBeijing
2023The 102nd Anniversary of the Founding of Chinese Communist Party Symphony ConcertBeijing
The Classic Songs Symphony ConcertXi'an

Filmography

Music Video

Song TitleRelease DateSinger
Journey (Chinese: 征程)04/30/2019Cai Chengyu & Lu Binqi
Whatever (Chinese: 管他呢)11/08/2019Lou Yixiao
The Light Beyond (自己的明天)11/20/2020Cai Chengyu

Variety Show

YearEnglish TitleOriginal TitleEpisode
2018Super-Vocal Season 1声入人心
Day Day Up天天向上2018/12/13
2019Singer 2019 (Season 7)歌手2019EP6 ~ EP12
Day Day Up天天向上3 episodes
Let's Sing Together合唱吧, 3002019/09/01
Happy Corner/Happy Camp快乐大本营2019/11/23
Super-Vocal Season 2声入人心2EP8, EP9
2020Singer: Year of the Hits (Season 8)歌手当打之年EP7 ~ EP11
Go Newbies新手驾到
2021Teens Party in Summer夏日少年派
The Store of Hope云上的小店EP7, EP8
2022The Everlasting Classics Season 5经典咏流传第五季EP1, EP4
Best Play拿手好戏EP7, EP9
2023Time Concert Season 2时光音乐会第二季EP7
The Everlasting Classics Season 6经典咏流传第六季EP2
Run for Time 2023全员加速中2023EP2, EP5, EP12
2024Run for Time 2024全员加速中·对抗季EP4, EP8, EP11, EP12
Hello, Saturday你好,星期六2024/05/04
Journey of Chinese Art on the Scroll Season 2诗画中国第二季EP7

Performance

Super-Vocal 声入人心

EpisodeDateSong TitleNotes
111/02/2018 Ah! mes amis.
311/16/2018 Grande AmorePerformed with Ma Jia
411/23/2018Deer Be Free (鹿 Be Free)Performed with Ayanga
511/30/2018Sorry, I Love You (Chinese: 对不起,我爱你)Performed with Zheng Yunlong
612/07/2018MelodrammaPerformed with Fang Shujian
812/21/2018Can You Feel the Love TonightPerformed with Ding Hui and Jia Fan
912/29/2018Per Te Ci SaroPerformed with Gao Yang and Li Qi
1001/04/2019Au fond du temple saintPerformed with Jia Fan
1101/11/2019HaloPerformed with Ju Hongchuan, Wang Kai and Yu Di
1201/18/2019Auld Lang Syne (Chinese: 友谊地久天长)Performed with Tong Zhuo and Wang Xi

Galas

YearGala
2024CCTV Sail Far and Wide Greater Bay Area 2024 New Year Concert
2024 Anhui TV China TV Drama Awards
2024 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Opening Ceremony
2024 CCTV Classic Night
2024 Anhui TV Chinese New Year's Gala
2024 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala Xi'an Branch Venue Special Porgram
2024 Dragon TV Chinese New Year's Gala
2024 Chinese Literary and Art Circles New Year's Gala
2024 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala
2024 Dragon TV Lantern Festival Gala
2024 Hunan TV Labour Day Gala
2024 CCTV Labour Day Special Program
2024 CCTV Dragon Boat Festival Gala
20232023 CCTV Chinese New Year's Network Gala
2023 SXTV Silk Road Chinese New Year Gala
2023 Global overseas Chinese Spring Festival Gala
2023 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala
2023 Sail Far and Wide Greater Bay Area Concert
CCTV China in Lights
2023 BTV May Fourth Gala
2023 CCTV May Fourth Special Program
The 28th Shanghai Television Festival Magnolia Awards Ceremony
The 102nd Anniversary of the Founding of Chinese Communist Party Symphony Concert
The 38th Harbin Summer Music Concert Opening Ceremony
2023 CCTV Qixi Festival Gala
2023 Hunan TV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala
2023 CCTV National Day Special Program
2023-2024 CCTV New Year Gala
20222022 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala
2022 Hunan TV Chinese New Year's Gala
2022 Dragon TV Chinese New Year's Gala
2022 Chinese Literary and Art Circles New Year's Gala
2022 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala
2022 Henan TV May Forth Gala
2022 Henan TV Adventure of The Dragon Boat Festival
2022 CCTV National Day Concert
2022-2023 CCTV New Year Gala
2022-2023 Hunan TV New Year's Gala
20212021 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala
2021 Hunan TV Lantern Festival Gala
2021 Hunan TV May Fourth Gala
2021 Hunan TV Mid-Autumn Gala
Great Journey: The 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Chinese Communist Party Gala
2021-2022 CCTV New Year Gala
2021-2022 Hunan TV New Year Gala
20202020 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala
2020 National Day Concert
2020-2021 Hunan TV New Year Gala
2019Chinese Literary and Art Circles New Year's Gala
2019 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala
2019 CCTV Qixi Festival Gala
2019 FIBA Men's Basketball World Cup Opening Ceremony
2019 National Day Concert
2019 Global overseas Chinese Spring Festival
2019 Hunan TV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala
20182018-2019 Hunan TV New Year Gala

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 《声入人心》找来这么多"宝藏男孩",不来pick一下吗?. epaper.xxsb.com. 30 April 2019. 24 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190224001935/http://epaper.xxsb.com/html/content/2018-11/30/content_794356.html. dead.
  2. Web site: 《声入人心》石倚洁再现经典highC 蔡程昱激动见偶像_大湘网_腾讯网. hn.qq.com. 30 April 2019.
  3. Web site: Decca Records Celebrate 90th Anniversary In China. udiscovermusic.com. 4 December 2019 . 2 January 2020.
  4. Web site: 云搏九万风鹏举 弦诵百年培菁华 安徽日报. epaper.anhuinews.com. 30 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190224062427/http://epaper.anhuinews.com/html/ahrb/20150810/article_3344480.shtml. 24 February 2019. dead.
  5. Web site: 20岁的蔡程昱完成了 "追星的最高境界". epaper. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190224062315/http://epaper.syd.com.cn/sywb/html/2018-11/18/content_207746.htm?div=0. 24 February 2019. 2 January 2020.
  6. News: Super Vocal sings out support for virus fight in 'To You' . 7 January 2022 . China Daily . 2020-02-28.
  7. Web site: 上海音乐学院2021年推荐免试研究生录取名单公示 . Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
  8. Web site: 上海音乐学院2024年学位授予名单 . Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
  9. Web site: 《声入人心》巡演会不会到广州?--时尚--人民网. fashion.people.com.cn. 30 April 2019. 23 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190123200701/http://fashion.people.com.cn/n1/2019/0120/c1014-30578948.html. dead.
  10. Web site: 《歌手》决赛,声入人心男团夺得季军,音乐剧的春天因他们而来. sa.sogou.com. 30 April 2019.
  11. Web site: Bill Whelan's 'Lift The Wings' Reaches #1 in China. 11 December 2019 . 2 January 2020.
  12. Web site: Yellow Lounge to launch in China - Diverse Künstler . 2024-08-11 . Deutsche Grammophon . en.