Cai Chengyu

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

Theatre and concert

Opera/Operetta

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.

Filmography

Music videos

Variety shows

Performance

Super-Vocal 声入人心

Galas