On the afternoon of March 21, 2026, the 129th Art Salon of Shanghai Star River Bilingual School, a flute recital entitled "Silver Sings in Color," graced the stage. This salon was directed by Ms. Mandy Xu and independently curated and performed by Zhu Yijia (Ivan), who began learning the flute at age seven. This debut recital marks a milestone and a testament to nine years of learning, practice, and personal growth.

Fauré: Sicilienne

The concert opened with this classic work by the pioneer of French Impressionist music. With its characteristic 6/8 time signature creating a swaying rhythm, the piece captures the peaceful elegance of pastoral songs, evoking the clarity and expressiveness of a calm lake under starlight. Ivan's delicate and soulful performance conveyed this tranquil beauty to every audience member.

Gossec: Tambourin

This lively work inspired by traditional folk dances from Provence, southern France, features a bright rhythm and festive atmosphere. The piece employs many light staccatos and flexible rhythmic variations, demanding precise control and expressive playing from the performer. Ivan mastered every rhythmic detail, showcasing the work's vitality and joy.

Every detail is fascinating.

Chopin: Variations on a Theme by Rossini

This Romantic-style "variation" takes the whimsical and lively operatic theme of Rossini as its foundation. Through four distinct variations, it reveals the rich transformations of a musical theme across different rhythms, tempos, textures, and emotions. From the staccato presentation of the theme to the lyrical expression through connected notes, to the climactic momentum of dense runs, Ivan's performance was layered and full of colorful variety.

Dai Hongwei: On the Inner Mongolia Grassland

This Chinese folk-style masterpiece vividly depicts the magnificent scenery of the grassland through four distinct sections. A gentle pastoral song reveals the vast tranquility of sunrise, gradually accelerating rhythms present the vitality of awakening life, dense sixteenth-note runs simulate the galloping momentum of thousands of horses, and finally returns to a soulful adagio that recalls the infinite beauty of the grassland in peaceful reflection. With sincere emotional investment, Ivan portrayed the vastness and depth of the grassland to perfection.

Debussy: Syrinx

t master known as "the Monet of music" draws from the touching story in Greek mythology of the god Pan playing a reed flute while yearning for his beloved. Through subtle changes in melody, harmony, and timbre, it creates a dreamlike atmosphere. Ivan performed this piece at age eleven, and each performance reveals new layers of meaning, conveying this poetic yearning to the audience.

Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp in C major

This Classical masterpiece, specially composed for the wedding of the daughter of the Duke of Guines in Paris, embodies the essence of Classical music: clear structure, prominent themes, and beautiful melodies. The Allegro first movement, with its bright and lively rhythm, transports listeners into a festive and joyful celebration atmosphere. Ivan's performance combined the rational beauty of Classicism with relaxed and joyful emotion.

Yumi Matsutoya: The arrival of spring 

The theme song of the 1994 Japanese television drama of the same name was born during Japan's "Heisei Depression" and carries people's longing for economic recovery and their aspirations for a better life. Its warm and healing melody, gentle as spring sunshine, transcends the season itself to become a cultural symbol of waiting for hope and healing wounds. Ivan conveyed this warmth and healing to every audience member.

Rimsky-Korsakov: The Flight of the Bumblebee

Drawing from Pushkin's "The Tale of Tsar Saltan," this late Romantic work uses continuous sixteenth-note runs and dense chromatic scales to precisely simulate the frantic flight of a bumblebee. The piece presents a representative challenge of speed and technical skill in flute performance. With precise control and fluid execution, Ivan brought this tense and exciting musical chase to life.

This concert specially invited three children with intellectual disabilities to participate and collaborated with the Pudong New Area Office of the Shanghai Welfare Foundation for Persons with Disabilities. Through music, we hope to bring more people together, enabling more music-loving friends to communicate, perform, and share the stage. Music should have no boundaries, and everyone who loves music deserves to be heard.