'The Song of Youth' sings once again

He says that classic or nostalgic stories, whether based on literature or historical events, often have universal themes that resonate across generations. These themes — love, adventure, loss, and triumph — are powerful when paired with music, making them even more emotionally evocative.

While older generations might be drawn to the nostalgic value, younger audiences are often attracted by the energy and spectacle of the musical format. This cross-generational appeal helps revive and reinvigorate older stories for a new audience.

Composer He Qi, who previously worked with Jia Ding, composed the music for this show.

"I have worked on this project for the past eight months, shaping the sound of this musical to align the rhythm of today's youth with the emotional heartbeat of the characters," says He. "We blend various musical styles — classical, heavy metal, and aria-like songs — to reflect the ups and downs, the intense and tender moments, to give the audience a full emotional experience."

Jia Ding, also a renowned lyricist, wrote the songs for this musical, while Tan Jing, a veteran singer, performs the theme song Ren Lai Ren Wang, or The Flow of Souls, who also serves as the show's vocal coach.

The main cast features Wang Kai as Lu, Gao Tianhe as Yu, and Cao Fujia as Lin.

The production is supported by the Beijing Culture and Arts Fund.