On the afternoon of November 3^rd, “Centennial Records: A Donation Event for Collector Mr. WANG Shilin” took place in the Arts Library of the NCPA as a part of the NCPA’s “Enter the World of Records” arts educational series. The event was attended by, among others, Deputy Secretary of the CPC NCPA Committee and Vice President of the NCPA ZHAO Jiachen, Chairman of Beijing Global Travel and collector WANG Shilin, and well-renowned Chinese tenor LI Guangxi.

 

Deputy Secretary of the CPC NCPA Committee and Vice President of the NCPA ZHAO Jiachen accepted the 431 vinyl records donated by Mr. WANG Shilin and awarded a donation certificate to him on behalf of the NCPA.

As a Chinese protector and inheritor of vinyl records, Mr. WANG Shilin is committed to collecting, sorting and researching vinyl records for years. This time, he showed the audience 10 vintage victrolas and more than 20 treasured vinyl records collected by him. Also, he recounted the history of the phonograph and the vinyl record, and recalled the evolution of the vinyl record in China over the past 100 years.

Deputy Secretary of the CPC NCPA Committee and Vice President of the NCPA ZHAO Jiachen awarded a donation certificate to him on behalf of the NCPA.

Photo by NIU Xiaobei

Besides, he highlighted three significant records: March of the Volunteers, Ode to the Motherland and Yellow River Cantata, as well as the creation of these pieces and the story behind his collection. “The NCPA is very familiar to me. I often come here to attend operas, traditional Chinese operas, symphonies and dramas. Since I started collecting vinyl records over six years ago, I have developed a profound understanding of cultural protection and inheritance. In my view, good things should be introduced to the public. So this time, I’ve singled out some precious records and presented them to the NCPA. I hope the precious sounds will be shown to the public in the ‘Enter the World of Records’ arts educational series,” said WANG Shilin.


Among more than 400 records donated by WANG Shilin, there are many high-value vinyl records: Yellow River Cantata, recorded and published by China Record Corporation in September 1958, is the first-ever 33-turn microgroove record in China. Another one is Couples in Disguise, jointed recorded by four Peking Opera masters MEI Lanfang, SHANG Xiaoyun, CHENG Yanqiu and XUN Huisheng on January 11^th, 1932. “These four masters often performed on the stage simultaneously, but this record is the only one they recorded together. Therefore, this record is also the treasure of Chinese records”, said WANG Shilin.

Chinese tenor LI Guangxi sang Toast Song during the event.
Photo by NIU Xiaobei

In addition to the exciting speech by Mr. WANG Shilin at the event, three respective exhibitions themed with treasured vinyl records, phonographs and vinyl record history will continue to be open to the public. Outside Arts Library, 20 precious vinyl records are displayed in eight glass window showcases. In membership area of Arts Library, ten phonographs are displayed on the stand. In ring corridor outside Arts Library, there are 37 exhibition boards about the history of vinyl records.

 

Every weekend, the NCPA “Enter the World of Records” arts educational series are held at the Arts Library. Through lectures, face-to-face meetings with masters, music salons and autographing sessions, this educational series profoundly focuses on the works and artists related to records and stories behind records. Since its launch in 2008, 1,405 sessions have been successfully held, which have benefited more than 240,000 audiences up to now.

 

This is the NCPA’s first time to receive precious vinyl records donated by a citizen. The NCPA will better protect those historical heritages and repay the public by showcasing the vinyl records and giving lectures under the theme of “Enter the World of Records”.