"Ode to Coral" is the theme song of the opera "Red Coral".

"Ode to Coral" is a song written by Zhao Zhong, Zhong Yibing, Lin Yinwu and Shan Wen, and composed by Hu Shiping and Wang Xiren. The song was composed in the early 1960s and is the theme of the opera "Red Coral" song. The song was originally sung by Zhu Fengbo and later premiered in Beijing by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Maritime Opera Troupe. In June 2019, "Ode to Coral" was selected into the "100 Excellent Songs to Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China" by the Central Propaganda Department.

The creative background of "Ode to Coral"

"Ode to Coral" is the female chorus aria in the eighth scene of the opera "Red Coral". Shanmei was stabbed and fainted by bandits in order to save Wang Yonggang. Later, this aria was sung behind the scenes. The song is written in a typical two-part form. The two parts adopt contrasting styles, absorbing Henan folk music and some boat and fishing chants.

The song was composed after the libretto of the opera "Red Coral" was completed and premiered in Beijing in 1960 by the Hai Zheng Opera Troupe. In 1961, when preparing to shoot an opera film of the same name, Hu Shiping and Wang Xiren made comprehensive modifications based on Shanmei's main melody and singing fragments in accordance with the director's requirements.