Uniquely great! William Wu吳文修: 滿江紅/古調 Yue Fei’s lyrics to the melody of “A River of Blossoms", 1979.

Maestro William Wu (吳文修教授, 1935-2009) was a primo dramatic tenor of the National Opera House in Berlin during 1973-79. His biography has been included in The New York Times Who’s Who in Opera since 1976, where he was further selected as one of the 50 leading classical singers in the world. His outstanding performance as Radames in Verdi’s Aida in Tokyo won him the 1984 Vienna World Opera Award. His faultless vocalization is mainly based upon anatomic physiology and modern sound science fascinating with uniquely perfect high notes and solid middle register. It is the profound feelings in the every note he sings that is particularly touching. Among his numerous students in Taiwan and Japan, baritone Te-Tsung Hsu (許徳崇) is one of the best and tenor Yun-Seng Giang (姜雲生) used to receive the most care.

* Chinese lyrics & English translation of '滿江紅/古調 (Yue Fei’s lyrics to the melody of “A river of blossoms" / Ancient tune)'

* 滿江紅 (古調)

怒髮衝冠，憑闌處、瀟瀟雨歇。
抬望眼、仰天長嘯，壯懷激烈。

三十功名塵與土，八千里路雲和月。
莫等閒，白了少年頭，空悲切。

靖康恥，猶未雪；臣子恨，何時滅？
駕長車，踏破賀蘭山缺。

壯志饑餐胡虜肉，笑談渴飲匈奴血。
待從頭、收拾舊山河，朝天闕。

* English translation of the lyrics of '滿江紅 (Yue Fei’s lyrics to the melody of “A river of blossoms" / Ancient tune)'

Raging with fury raises my hair and topples my crest.
While leaning against a rail as heavy rain breaks, I look up roaring at the sky with high hopes in heart.

While the high rank and fame achieved by thirty on dusty battlefields are no more than a bit of dust, eight thousand miles of expedition accompanied with numerous clouds and moons are still ahead.
Never waste time; once hair greys, there leaves only regret.

As long as the Jingkang disgrace still awaits revenge, how can my remorse be laid to rest?
We shall charge our chariots to stomp out all intruders on the Helan Pass.
We'd feed on the flesh of the northern tribes when hungry, and cheerfully drink their blood when thirsty.
The day we recover what used to be our territory, we'd pay our respect in the direction of the Gate of Heaven.