A man from New York can hit high notes like Whitney Houston: ‘The Unicorn’

NEW YORK (PIX11) — It’s the rarest of voices: that of a man capable of singing in a register normally reserved for female sopranos.

Chuanyuan Liu is a countertenor and one of less than ten Asian countertenors worldwide.

At just 26 years old, Liu is participating in the New York Choral Society’s special 65th anniversary concert, with pieces exploring issues of discrimination, identity and acceptance, all challenges Chuan has faced.

“This particular program absolutely speaks to me,” Liu said. “As an Asian living in the United States and also experiencing discrimination because of my sexual orientation, it felt so connecting to be a part of this project.”

Liu grew up in China and loved music from a young age. “I would be the karaoke kid and sing a lot of songs written for Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston,” Liu said. “That’s kind of how I started singing falsetto.”

Singing the hits of his pop idols was a sign of his career to come. He began studying music, but it was in college and graduate school here in the United States that he was introduced to the classical repertoire. A vocal coach recognized his gift.

“My The teacher and I were warming up to this higher range, and he said, “Oh, you have this beautiful rising sound that blossoms at the top, do you want to try something in that range?” and I was sure. »

Centuries ago, operatic roles were reserved for a castrato – a singer who had undergone the cruel practice of castration before puberty. This was done to prevent the development of the vocal cords, thus preserving their high-pitched voice. In contrast, a countertenor is a man with a natural baritone who sings in falsetto.

Liu grew up with few Asian role models in the industry, and he realized early on that aside from stereotypical characters in operas like Madame Butterfly, there was a lack of roles for Asian performers.

Its goal is to bring opera to a wider audience, a mission shared by the New York Choral Society.

PIX11 News caught up with Liu while he was leading a workshop at the Harlem School of the Arts.

“I can introduce the idea of ​​countertenor to them,” Liu said. “Plus, opera isn’t just for the elite and people with money, it’s truly an art form for everyone.”

Liu and the New York Choral Society will present “The Unicorn,” a theatrical production featuring “The Lark” by Leonard Bernstein and “The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore” by Gian Carlo Menotti. The production is inspired by the Lavendar Scare of the 1950s, when LGBTQ people were persecuted.

For Liu, it’s also deeply personal. He is just as focused on bringing a diversity of voices to the stage.

“It’s a very traditional industry and there are barriers that have been in place for centuries,” Liu said. “We are seeing greater progress every day in removing these barriers. »

Liu’s performance with the New York Choral Society will take place on May 30 at NYU’s Skirball Center.