Cai Chengyu (; born January 17, 1998) is a Chinese tenor. He is known for participating in Hunan TV's singing variety show Super-Vocal where he first gained attention and recognition for becoming one of the top 6 leading singers in 2018. Cai joined Decca Records in 2019 and released his first solo EP Cai Chengyu in 2021. Cai made his opera debut as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni produced by Shanghai Opera House in 2020 and his debut at National Centre for the Performing Arts as Camille de Rosillon in The Merry Widow in 2023.
Cai obtained his bachelor's and master's degree from Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2021 and 2024 respectively.
Personal life Cai grew up in Suzhou, Anhui, China and attended Sucheng No.1 Middle School. In his last music class in high school, he performed "Heroes' Song" () at his classmates' invitation. Impressed by Cai's talent, his music teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in music. A year later in 2015, he successfully made to the Department of Vocal Music and Opera of Shanghai Conservatory of Music with the fourth best grades nationwide.
Prior to his debut on Super-Vocal, Cai has participated in Shanghai Conservatory of Music production of Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Carmina Burana, etc.. Cai studied under baritone Wang Kaiwei and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2021 at top of the class. He was one of the three students in the class who were recommended to SHCM master's admission with exemption of Nationwide Master's Program Unified Admissions Examination and earned his master's degree in 2024.
Singing career
In 2018, Cai participated in Hunan TV singing variety show Super-Vocal. He made his debut by performing "Ah! mes amis", one of the well-known arias from the opera "La fille du régiment". Later in the competition, he has been continuously improving and finally made to the top 6 leading singers in Super-Vocal for the year of 2018.
In February 2019, he was invited to participate in Hunan TV singing competition Singer together with other finalists from Super-Vocal and achieved the third place in the Final. In November 2019, Cai joined Decca Records and teamed up with other three vocalists as the new bel canto ensemble Super Vocal. In the same month, on the 25th Anniversary of Riverdance, Cai released a Mandarin version of the show's principle song Lift The Wings feat. Bill Whelan.
On 24 January, Cai performed Ode to the Yellow River in 2020 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala. In March 2020, Cai participated in Singer: Year of the Hits as a member of Super Vocal. In July 2020, Cai played Don Ottavio in the concert version of opera Don Giovanni produced by Shanghai Opera House under the baton of Xu Zhong. In December 2020, Cai was invited to perform at the Yellow Lounge China Grand Opening.
In January 2021, Cai released his first solo EP Cai Chengyu with Decca Records and held his first recital at Shanghai Concert Hall. In June 2021, Cai performed in large scale epic The Great Journey in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. Starting from September 2021, Cai rolled out his first recital tour The Light Beyond.
On January 31, 2022, Cai performed Reminiscing Jiangnan in the 2022 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala.
In May 2023, Cai played Alfredo in the opera La Traviata co-produced by Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Theatre Kiel with Zhang Jiemin conducting. The opera was also invited to the 2023 China Opera Festival in Hangzhou. In October 2023, Cai made his debut at National Centre for the Performing Arts as Camille de Rosillon in The Merry Widow under the baton of Thomas Rösner.
In November 2024, Cai returned as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni co-produced by Shanghai Opera House and Shanghai International Arts Festival under the baton of Xu Zhong. In the same month, he also played Alfred in Die Fledermaus produced by National Centre for the Performing Arts under the baton of Marc Minkowski.
Discography
Albums/EPs TitleOriginal titleRelease dateTypeLabelGenreCai Chengyu蔡程昱January 15, 2021EPDeccaClassical Crossover
Singles YearTitleOriginal titleNote2024The Dream of an Old Friend at the End of the World天涯故人梦Produced by Beijing Musician's AssociationTravel around the Planets环游行星2023Amore Mio, Dormi Bene星月无尽A Wind from the South有风自南Theme song for Guangzhou Literature NightPraise the Fool赞美愚者Theme song for Code:Mystery, the mobile game of web novel Lord of Mysteries2022Building the Dreams筑梦Theme song for Xinhua News Agency reporting group for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic GamesQu Yuan's Song屈子吟From Henan TV Adventure of The Dragon Boat FestivalFairy Sea仙海City theme song for Yantai2021Like Lights with Shadows像光陪影子一样Cover of Love Changes Everything from the musical Aspects of LoveSet Out出发2019Lift the WingsLift the Wingsfeat. Bill Whelan, Chinese theme song commemorating 25th Anniversary of RiverdanceOriginal Aspiration初心Xinhua News Agency theme song for 98th Anniversary of the founding of Chinese Communist PartyJourney征程Xinhua News Agency theme song commemorating 100th Anniversary of May Fourth MovementThat's it那就这样吧NetEase "Remake of Youth", cover Power Station
Theatre and concert
Opera/Operetta YearTitleRoleProducer2020Don Giovanni (Concert)Don OttavioShanghai Opera House2023La TraviataAlfredo GermontShanghai Conservatory of Music, Theatre KielThe Merry WidowCamille de RosillonNational Centre for the Performing Arts2024Don Giovanni Don OttavioShanghai Opera House, Shanghai International Arts FestivalDie FledermausAlfredNational Centre for the Performing Arts2025FalstaffFentonShanghai Opera HouseThe Land of SmilesPrince Sou-Chong Shanghai Opera House2026Die FledermausAlfredShanghai Philharmonic Orchestra
Recital Cai Chengyu first solo concert The Light Beyond (Shanghai, January 28, 2021) Cai Chengyu 2021 Recital Tour The Light Beyond (Shenzhen, Shanghai, etc., September 2021 – November 2021) Cai Chengyu Recital Tour The Light Beyond (Beijing, October 28, 2023, rescheduled for the postponed one in 2021) Cai Chengyu Master's Recital (Shanghai, November 24, 2023, for master's degree graduation)
Others For the concert tour dedicated for the variety show Super-Vocal, please see Super-Vocal. YearTitleLocation2019"Memory · Nostalgia" Guangzhou Liao Changyong ConcertGuangzhou2020Opera Selection Ensemble ConcertShanghaiA Hundred Years of Chinese Artistic Songs ConcertShanghai2020–2021The Long March SymphonyShanghai2021Beijing Great Wall ConcertBeijing2023Symphony Concert in celebration of The 102nd Anniversary of the Founding of Communist Party of ChinaBeijingThe Classic Songs Symphony ConcertXi'an
Filmography
Music videos Song titleRelease dateSingerJourney ()April 30, 2019Cai Chengyu & Lu BinqiWhatever ()November 8, 2019Lou YixiaoThe Light Beyond (自己的明天)November 20, 2020Cai Chengyu
Variety shows YearEnglish titleOriginal titleEpisode2018Super-Vocal Season 1声入人心Day Day Up天天向上December 13, 20182019Singer 2019 (Season 7)歌手2019EP6 ~ EP12Let's Sing Together合唱吧, 300September 1, 2019Happy Corner/Happy Camp快乐大本营November 23, 2019Super-Vocal Season 2声入人心2EP8, EP92020Singer: Year of the Hits (Season 8)歌手当打之年EP7 ~ EP11Go Newbies新手驾到2021Teens Party in Summer夏日少年派The Store of Hope云上的小店EP7, EP82022The Everlasting Classics Season 5经典咏流传第五季EP1, EP4Best Play拿手好戏EP7, EP92023Time Concert Season 2时光音乐会第二季EP7The Everlasting Classics Season 6经典咏流传第六季EP2Run for Time 2023全员加速中2023EP2, EP5, EP122024Run for Time 2024全员加速中·对抗季EP4, EP8, EP11, EP12Hello, Saturday你好，星期六May 4, 2024Journey of Chinese Art on the Scroll Season 2诗画中国第二季EP7Time Concert Season 4时光音乐会第四季EP3
Performance
Super-Vocal 声入人心 EpisodeDateSong titleNotes1November 2, 2018Ah! mes amis.3November 16, 2018Grande AmorePerformed with Ma Jia4November 23, 2018Deer Be Free (鹿 Be Free)Performed with Ayanga5November 30, 2018Sorry, I Love You ()Performed with Zheng Yunlong6December 7, 2018MelodrammaPerformed with Fang Shujian8December 21, 2018Can You Feel the Love TonightPerformed with Ding Hui and Jia Fan9December 29, 2018Per Te Ci SaroPerformed with Gao Yang and Li Qi10January 4, 2019Au fond du temple saintPerformed with Jia Fan11January 11, 2019HaloPerformed with Ju Hongchuan, Wang Kai and Yu Di12January 18, 2019Auld Lang Syne ()Performed with Tong Zhuo and Wang Xi
Galas YearGala2024CCTV Sail Far and Wide Greater Bay Area 2024 New Year Concert2024 Anhui TV China TV Drama Awards2024 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Opening Ceremony2024 CCTV Classic Night2024 Anhui TV Chinese New Year's Gala2024 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala Xi'an Branch Venue Special Program2024 Dragon TV Chinese New Year's Gala2024 Chinese Literary and Art Circles New Year's Gala2024 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala2024 Dragon TV Lantern Festival Gala2024 Hunan TV Labour Day Gala2024 CCTV Labour Day Special Program2024 CCTV Dragon Boat Festival GalaThe 37th Hundred Flowers Awards Ceremony2024 CCTV Qixi Festival Gala2024 Dragon TV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala20232023 CCTV Chinese New Year's Network Gala2023 SXTV Silk Road Chinese New Year Gala2023 Global overseas Chinese Spring Festival Gala2023 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala2023 Sail Far and Wide Greater Bay Area ConcertCCTV China in Lights2023 BTV May Fourth Gala2023 CCTV May Fourth Special ProgramThe 28th Shanghai Television Festival Magnolia Awards CeremonyThe 102nd Anniversary of the Founding of Chinese Communist Party Symphony ConcertThe 38th Harbin Summer Music Concert Opening Ceremony2023 CCTV Qixi Festival Gala2023 Hunan TV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala2023 CCTV National Day Special Program2023–2024 CCTV New Year Gala20222022 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala2022 Hunan TV Chinese New Year's Gala2022 Dragon TV Chinese New Year's Gala2022 Chinese Literary and Art Circles New Year's Gala2022 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala2022 Henan TV May Forth Gala2022 Henan TV Adventure of The Dragon Boat Festival2022 CCTV National Day Concert2022–2023 CCTV New Year Gala2022–2023 Hunan TV New Year's Gala20212021 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala2021 Hunan TV Lantern Festival Gala2021 Hunan TV May Fourth Gala2021 Hunan TV Mid-Autumn GalaThe Great Journey: celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Communist Party2021–2022 CCTV New Year Gala2021–2022 Hunan TV New Year Gala20202020 CCTV Chinese New Year's Gala2020 National Day Concert2020–2021 Hunan TV New Year Gala2019Chinese Literary and Art Circles New Year's Gala2019 CCTV Lantern Festival Gala2019 CCTV Qixi Festival Gala2019 FIBA Men's Basketball World Cup Opening Ceremony2019 National Day Concert2019 Global overseas Chinese Spring Festival2019 Hunan TV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala20182018–2019 Hunan TV New Year Gala
References