壮阔乐章，震撼心灵——高僧空海跨越千年来到伦敦
A Majestic Soul-stirring Symphony: Master Kukai Crosses Millenia to Arrive in London
2024年8月17日，交响曲《空海》在伦敦威斯敏斯特中央大厅演出，来自东方空灵、壮阔、和合之音跨越时空响彻泰晤士河畔，引发国际社会高度关注和热烈反响。
On 17 August 2024, the symphony Kukai took stage at Central Hall Westminster in London. The ethereal, majestic, and harmonious sounds from the East echoed along the banks of the Thames, transcending time and space, and sparked significant attention and enthusiastic responses from the international community.
中国使馆公参李立言先生，斯里兰卡大使Rohitha Bogollagama先生及其夫人，威斯敏斯特市长Robert Rigby先生及其夫人，日本使馆一等秘书Junko Nakaji女士等政府官员，London Buddhist Vihara首席Seelawimala长老等众多文化与宗教届人士出席此次活动。现场听众近1800人，规模宏大、盛况空前。
The event was graced by the presence of distinguished guests, including Mr. Li Liyan, Minister Counsellor for Cultural Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in UK; His Excellency Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, and his wife; Mr. Robert Rigby, Lord Mayor of Westminster, and his wife; Ms. Junko Nakaji, First Secretary in the Cultural section of the Japanese Embassy in UK, among other government officials. Prominent cultural and religious figures, includingChief Priest Seelawimala of the London Buddhist Vihara, were also in attendance. Nearly 1,800 attendees filled the venue, making this a grand and unprecedented event.
《空海》由北京天鼓之音文化传媒有限公司2023年携手中国著名作曲家邹野创作，纪念日本平安时代高僧空海诞辰1250周年。空海为中国唐代日本留学僧，师学真言宗七祖惠果门下，日本真言宗创始人、日本文化奠基人。交响曲以音乐形式讲述了空海的生平事迹，从志求真理、勤勉苦修、赴唐求学、绍承法脉，到归国弘化、四朝国师、护佑国家、造福民众，完整地呈现了空海伟大又传奇的一生。作品将空海的广大智慧、无量慈悲与济世安民、普利有情的宏大愿力完美地融入音乐，打造出极致的听觉盛宴：听众或感安定舒泰、豁然开朗，或感昂扬激荡、心灵净化。作品终章以空海的宏伟誓愿“虚空尽，众生尽，涅槃尽，我愿尽”结尾，赞歌响彻云霄，直透人心，气象雄猛磅礴，效果非常震撼……演出结束后，现场欢呼声不断，掌声如雷！
The symphony Kukai was created in 2023 by Beijing Tianguzhiyin Culture Media Co. Ltd. in collaboration with the renowned Chinese composer Mr. Zou Ye. It commemorates the 1250thanniversary of the birth of a revered Japanese Heian period monk Master Kukai. Master Kukaistudied in China during the Tang Dynasty under Master Huiguo, the seventh patriarch of Esoteric Buddhism, and later founded Shingon Buddhism in Japan and became a founding figure in Japanese culture. The symphony narrates Kukai’sextraordinary life through music – from his pursuit of truth, rigorous ascetic practices, and journey to Tang China for study, to inheriting the dharma lineage, returning to Japan to spread his teachings, serving as the imperial preceptor for four emperors, protecting the nation, and benefiting the people, thus presenting Kukai's great and legendary life in its entirety. The work masterfully integrates Master Kukai’s vast wisdom, boundless compassion, and great vow to alleviate suffering into a profound auditory experience, offering listeners moments of tranquility, enlightenment, exhilaration, and spiritual purification. The final movement concludes with Kukai's great vow: “When all akasa is reached, all living beings are enlightened, and nirvana is achieved, then my wishes will be fulfilled.” The resounding anthems soared into the sky, touching the hearts of audiences with a powerful and majestic grandeur that was truly awe-inspiring. As the performance concluded, the venue erupted into continuous cheers, and the applause thundered on.
本场演出由英国指挥家Derrick Morgan携Orpheus Sinfonia交响乐团、中国中央音乐学院合唱团、英国Scherzo Ensemble合唱团和伦敦华人爱乐合唱团联袂演绎。不同肤色的艺术家同台用中文献唱，蕴积于心灵深处的真情喷薄而出，激荡人心，令人幡然动容。
The performance was brought to life by British conductor Derrick Morgan, leading the Orpheus Sinfonia Orchestra, the China Central Conservatory of Music Choir, the Scherzo Ensemble from the UK, and the London Chinese Philharmonic Choir. Artists of diverse backgrounds took the stage together, singing in Chinese with a genuine emotion that surged from the depths of their hearts and souls, moving the audience profoundly and stirring aprofound sense of awakening within.
《空海》曾于2023年由天鼓之音联合中国爱乐乐团在中国兰州，日本京都、东京等地成功巡演，主办方天鼓之音代表在演出招待会上说：“我们是希望通过这样的音乐把大家的心连起来，让人们能在柔软、平和的状态下互相沟通、理解、包容。我们希望交响曲《空海》能走遍全球，让各个文明和语言的人都能听到空海的声音。”
The symphony Kukai had previously enjoyed a successful tour in 2023, with performances in Lanzhou in China, and Kyoto and Tokyo in Japan.The representative of the sponsoring company Tianguzhiyin Culture Media Co. Ltd. shared a heartfelt vision at the pre-performance reception: “Through this music, we hope to connect people's hearts, allowing them to communicate, understand, and embrace each other in a gentle and peaceful state. We hope that the symphony Kukai can tour different places in the world, touching people of all cultures and languages with the profound voice of Master Kukai.”
本次伦敦首演是对中日文化交流史的致敬，更以忘我无私、济世利他的空海精神为载体，呼唤东西方文明间的交流互鉴。让我们期待交响曲《空海》在更多国家与地区奏响，让更多人感受空海精神传递的慈悲、智慧与无尽愿力。祈愿四海清泰、世界和平！
This London premiere pays a tribute to the rich history of cultural exchange between China and Japan, embodying the selfless and altruistic spirit of Master Kukai as a bridge to call for cultural exchange and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations. We eagerly anticipate the symphony Kukai to perform across more countries and regions, allowing countless others to experience the compassion, wisdom, and great vowconveyed by the spirit of Master Kukai. May there be tranquility and harmony across the four seas, and may the world be at peace!
（来源：中国音乐网）
