Hu Baoshun

Hu Baoshan (胡宝善) was born on June 8, 1935, in Beijing and is of Manchu ethnicity. His father, Hu Yuzheng (胡裕徵), was a well-known Chinese medical expert, acclaimed as a master of traditional Chinese medicine. Under his father's strict upbringing, Hu Baoshan studied the arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting in childhood and developed lasting interests in painting, calligraphy, and music.

In 1950, at not yet 15 years old, Hu Baoshan enlisted and joined the Cultural Troupe of the Public Security Forces (the predecessor of the Armed Police Cultural Troupe). He became a member of the Communist Party of China in 1956. Early on he studied vocal music under the voice educator Cai Jingyi (蔡静仪) and received professional vocal training. Owing to his vocal talent he had the opportunity to study in the Soviet Union. While at Tianjin Conservatory of Music he studied with the Soviet expert Medvedev (梅德维杰夫), and later continued advanced study at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He was then sent to study abroad in Bulgaria at the Sofia National Academy of Music. During his studies, to address issues in his voice transition (the passaggio), he also received guidance from the world-class vocal authority Professor 布伦巴罗夫, achieving excellent results and graduating with full marks.

After returning to China, Hu Baoshan served as a soloist with the Song and Dance Troupe of the General Political Department. In 1960 he was assigned to teach at the People's Liberation Army Academy of Art, where he trained many singers. In 1969 he was transferred to the Song and Dance Troupe of the Navy Political Department, serving successively as choir captain, vocal instructor, teacher, and soloist. During his performing career he wrote and premiered the navy song “I Love This Blue Ocean” (我爱这蓝色的海洋) in 1973; the song, in the style of a waltz, expresses Chinese naval personnel’s love of the sea and became widely popular. The piece was also recommended by the General Political Department as one of the army’s representative works and was published in several newspapers.

In the 1980s Hu Baoshan and his elder brother Hu Songhua (胡松华) organized joint performances that were well received by the public. On July 1, 2011, he released his first music album, also titled I Love This Blue Ocean, as a tribute to the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. In 2012 he performed on China Central Television’s Spring Festival Gala with his son Hu Jun (胡军), and he sang several popular songs online, including “An Xiang” (暗香) and “Beijing Beijing” (北京 北京).

In 2016, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Hu Baoshan reinterpreted the song “Follow the Party, March Toward New Glory” (跟着共产党 走向新辉煌) by writing new lyrics and arranging the music, expressing his devotion to the Party. He received multiple honors, including a government stipend certificate issued by the State Council and inclusion in the “100 Excellent Songs Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.”

Hu Baoshan was one of four siblings; many family members worked in the arts. His elder brother Hu Songhua was a well-known tenor. Hu Baoshan’s wife, Wang Yiman (王亦满), worked in the drama troupe of the Beijing Air Force Cultural Troupe. The couple had two daughters and a son; their son Hu Jun is an actor. Hu Baoshan suffered from diabetes and cancer during his life but continued vocal practice, reportedly practicing as late as the day before his death.

Hu Baoshan had a notable influence on modern Chinese vocal music and the performing arts. His vocal style was praised with the line “gathering countless rivers and streams to brew the sweet springs of Chinese bel canto” (纳江河溪流百千，酿中华美声甘泉); his tone was said to be pure and his enunciation clear.