Archive for February 17th, 2010

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China Travel – Lijiang River(2)

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

The second segment is from Yangdi to Xingping (total 17km; 40 minutes’ voyage). This segment has the most beautiful landscape of waters and hills. Many scenic spots are on both banks of the Lijiang River. For example, the ferry precipices of the Half-Side Ferry seem cut by knife, which is seldom seen in the world; the peaks are standing upright on both banks and the flying waterfall is being suspended highly at the Erlang Gorge; the precipice of the Mural Hill is even and straight as if cut by knife, interlaced and decorated with the colors of white, yellow, gray and black, etc. After boating out of the Siwang, one can see nine horses on the precipice of the Mural Hill, so it is commonly called as the Nine-Horse Painting.

The third segment is from Xingping to Yangshuo (total 20km; 2 hours’ voyage). When you can see the highest Green Lotus Peak in Yangshuo, you will reach Yangshuo City soon. Seen from the front side, the Green Lotus Peak is as smooth as a mirror, so it is also called the Jianshan (mirror hill).

One of the advantages to visit the Lijiang River is that the tourists do not need to worry about the change of the weather, since the views of the Lijiang River have different characteristics in different weather conditions: Tourists can view the inverted images of green peaks in sunny days ; view the clouds and mists covering the hills in overcast days and view the misty rain of the Lijiang River in rainy days. Even in the overcast and rainy days, the mist over the water is wreathing, the chain of mountains is gleaming, drifting clouds are moving among the miraculous peaks, and the rain curtain is covering the waters and hills as the lengthwise yarn, looking like many splash-ink watercolor paintings.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

Posted in China Travel, learn Chinese | No Comments »

Beijing Olympic – Verdi’s Opera: Rigoletto

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

(A Cooperative Production of Teatro Regio di Parma and NCPA)
Director: Daniele Abbado
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts  – Opera House
Dates:  June 18 – 21, 2009    19:30
Price:  VIP    1080    880    680    480    280 RMB

Programme Introduction

Rigoletto, created in 1851, is one of Italian opera master Verdi’s classics and, together with La Traviata and Trovatore, is called Verdi’s three classics in his middle life of creation and has been famous for over one century. Verdi strengthens the dramatic part of the play and with skillful musical techniques depicts deeply the rich mental changes and characteristics of the characters of the play. The opera creates three different musical images, that is, the irresolute and mentally changeable jester, the refined but frivolous, affectionate but easily changeable duke and the innocent, affectionate and poetically imaginative Gilda. Many selections of this opera have become world famous, of which La donna è mobile (Women are fickle), with its relaxed and lively rhythm and gorgeous tones, becomes a world popular classic song.

Parma Royal Opera House
Parma Royal Opera House was established in 1829, which was the most important legacy of Duchess Maria Lulchia and also the best representation of the blend of society and culture of that period. As the Italian opera master Verdi’s hometown, the Opera House is tightly connected with Verdi’s whole life as well as his classic works. It holds Verdi Festival every autumn and is called the Holy Land in the heart of Verdi fans. Parma Royal Opera House has a long history and possesses a profound performing tradition, all of which makes it become Italy’s cultural hub.

The premiere of Leo Nucci, the world No.1 Rigoletto, in China
Rigoletto will be staged by about 200 professional artists from Parma Royal Theatre, including the most wanted Italian baritone Leo Nucci, who “wns the most melodious voice in the world” In the contemporary music circle, Leo Nucci is definitely the most authoritative singer to perform Verdi’operas. Nucci has acted Rigoletto since he was 31 years old, and the dozens of years’experience has made him the “orld No. 1 Rigoletto” At the Opera Festival, the 67-year-old artist will perform again Rigoletto, his most familiar role, presenting a real “Verdi Baritone” to the audience.

Synopsis
It is a story that happens in the 16th century in Italy’s Matua. The protagonist Rigoletto, ugly and hunchbacked, is a jester in the palace of the Duke of Mantua. The Duke, young and handsome, only takes pleasure from flirting with women, which evokes the courtiers’ discontentment. However, Rigoletto only mocks at the courtiers’ wives and daughters’ misfortune and offends many people and finally gets the misfortune of losing his daughter. His daughter Gilda is innocent and beautiful. The Duke disguises himself as a poor student and secretly chases her and at last gets her love. Later, Rigoletto lures the Duke to sleep in the hotel with a beauty and hires an assassin to kill him. At dawn, he finds that it is the dying Gilda who has disguised herself as the Duke. In fact, the young girl, who loves the Duke though he does not really love her, knew the assassin plan and is willing to die for the Duke because of love.

Production Team
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Conductor: Donato Renzetti
Director: Stefano Vizioli
Stage & Costume Designer: Pierluigi Samaritani
Alessandro Ciammarughi
Lighting Designer: Andrea Borelli
Chorus Conductor: Martino Faggiani

Cast
Duke of Mantua        Francesco Demuro　(June 18 / 20)
Valter Borin　(June 19 / 21)

Rigoletto                     Leo Nucci　(June 18)
(The duke’s jester)      Vladimir Stoyanov　(June 19 / 21)
George Gagnidze　(June 20)

Gilda                          Desiree Rancatore　(June 18 / 20)
(His daughter)            Maria Alejandres　(June 19 / 21)

Sparafucile                 Felipe Bou
(An assassin)

Maddalena                 Francesca Franci
(His sister)

Giovanna                   Katarina Nikolic
(Gilda’s Nurse)

Count Monterone      Roberto Tagliavini

Teatro Regio di Parma Orchestra and Chorus

(Source: ebeijing.gov.cn)

Posted in Beijing Olympic, China Travel | No Comments »

Chinese Culture – Painting on Glass(6)

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Any brush may be used, but recognize that transparent enamels tend to show brush marks. Take advantage of this by using the brush to create desirable patterns and textures. (Opaque enamels are less likely to exhibit this trait.)

Once application is complete, the enamels should be allowed to dry prior to being kiln-fired. Enamels will mature at various temperatures, with opaques generally requiring higher temperatures (around 1450 degrees Fahrenheit) and transparents needing only to be fired to around 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. For enamels that fire at this lower temperature, it is possible to both slump and fire on enamels in the same firing. Many of these lower-firing enamels contain lead, so care should be taken not to use them on food-bearing surfaces.

It is possible to achieve significantly different results by varying the method of brush application. The enamels can be mixed very thin and splattered onto the glass. They can be applied, allowed to dry, then scratched partially off to yield interesting patterns. Often, the best results come from very thin applications and multiple firings; thicker applications tend to result in a dark, muddy appearance.

Also, many glass artists use “reverse painting” techniques. This approach, which is contrary to “normal” painting techniques which start with the background and add details as a final step, starts on the backside of the sheet of glass. Working from the top layers to the bottom, successive layers of paint are added and fired until the picture is complete. Although the approach appears strange at first, it results in a work with an exceptionally clear and glossy surface.

Remember that when firing enamels you must follow the normal warm glass procedures to heat, anneal, and cool the glass to prevent cracking and thermal shock. Fired properly, the enamels will bond to the glass, resulting in a permanent, lustrous finish.

** Dry application

Glass enamels can also be applied dry. To do this, simply place a small amount of enamel powder in a sifter and sift. You can add interest by drawing patterns in the sifted powder or masking off a portion of the glass “canvas” to control where the powder goes.

If you work with glass enamels, it’s a good idea to wear a mask to keep from inhaling the glass particles. This is especially good advice if you are sifting and working with dry enamels, which can easily become airborne.

（Source: chinaculture.org）

Posted in Chinese Culture, learn Chinese | No Comments »

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