Cai Chengyu

Cai Chengyu (born January 17, 1998) is a Chinese operatic 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 High School. In his last music class in high school, he performed "Heroes' Song" (好汉歌) 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 participted 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 eventually earned his master’s degree in 2024.

Singing career
In 2018, Cai participated in Hunan TV singing competition Super-Vocal. He made his debut by performing "Ah! mes amis." (多么快乐的一天), one of the well-known arias from the opera "La fille du régiment" (军中女郎). 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 (Ju Hongchuan, Zheng Yunlong and Ayanga) and achieved the third place in the Grand Final.

In the same year, to commemorate the spirit of May Fourth Movement and to celebrate the founding of the Communist Party, he partnered with the journalist from Xinhua News Agency, Lu Binqi, and introduced two songs "Journey" (征程) and "Original Aspiration"(初心). In June 2019, being part of the "Revival of the Classics Project" (青春重置计划) organized by NetEase Cloud Music (网易云音乐), Cai released his first single by covering the song "That's it" (那就这样吧) from the rock duo Power Station (动力火车).

In November 2019, after Cai teamed up with other three vocalists, the new bel canto ensemble Super Vocal announced its first single: Mandarin version of the song "Into the Unknown" (未知的真相) from the Disney animation Frozen II. In the same month, on the 25th Anniversary of Riverdance, the well-known theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish music and dance, Cai released a Mandarin version of the show’s principle song "Lift The Wings", composed by Bill Whelan.

In March 2020, Cai participated in Singer: Year of the Hits as a member of Super Vocal. In July 2020, Cai made his opera debut as Don Ottavio in the opera Don Giovanni produced by Shanghai Opera House. In January 2021, Cai released his first solo EP Cai Chengyu and held his first solo concert at Shanghai Symphony Hall. On January 31, 2022, Cai participated 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. 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 Ats as Camille de Rosillon in The Merry Widow.

Recital

 * Cai Chengyu first solo concert The Light Beyond (Shanghai, 2021/01/28)
 * Cai Chengyu 2021 Recital Tour The Light Beyond (Shenzhen, Shanghai, etc., 2021/09 - 2021/11)
 * Cai Chengyu Recital Tour The Light Beyond (Beijing, 2023/10/28, rescheduled for the postponed one in 2021)
 * Cai Chengyu Master's Recital (Shanghai, 2023/11/24, for master's degree graduation)

Others
For the concert tour dedicated for the variety show Super-Vocal, please see Super-Vocal.