Presenter: National Centre for the Performing Arts and Beijing Peking Opera Troupe, etc
Production: National Centre for the Performing Arts
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts-Opera House
Dates: March 31 – April 07, 2009
Price: VIP 680 480 280 180 100 RMB
(Mar. 31 / Apr. 1 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 19:30)
VIP 500 400 200 120 80 RMB
(Apr. 2 / 6 19:30 Apr. 4 / 5 14:00)
Programme Introduction
Playwright: Cai Fuchao
Chief Director: Zhang Jigang
Composer: Zhu Shaoyu
Stage Design Director / Supervisor: Gao Guangjian
Executive Director: Shi Hongtu
Classic Version Cast: Yu Kuizhi, Meng Guanglu, Li Hongtu, Li Shengsu, Du Zhenjie,
Chen Junjie, Zhu Qiang and Huang Baixue, etc
Youth Version Cast: Zhang Jianfeng, Wang Yue, Jin Xiquan, Dou Xiaoxuan,
Huang Yanzhong, Du Zhe, Mei Qingyang and Zhang Kai, etc
At the end of 2008, a new epic Peking Opera Red Cliff continued to be staged for ten performances at NCPA to celebrate its first anniversary. With the theatre packed, it has been greatly received since its debut, causing a fad for Peking Opera, the quintessence of Chinese culture, with its great epic charm.
From March 31 to April 7, 2009, Red Cliff will be staged for another 10 performances at NCPA, which will show its greater artistic charm to the spectators.
The success of this play relies on a powerful lineup for the creation: it was adapted by Cai Fuchao, a famous playwriter; chiefly directed by Zhang Jigang, the assistant chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and executive chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing 2008 Paralympics; Zhu Shaoyu, a famous composer with a variety of 40 compositions as well as Shi Hongtu and other well-known Peking Opera artists joined in this opera. Major performers are from Beijing Peking Opera Troupe. Zhang Jigang has directed many plays, such as A Handful of Sour Dates, and it was his first time to direct a Peking Opera; however, he succeeded in mixing the charm of dance and the appeal of Peking Opera and showing it perfectly on the stage.
The further-polished Red Cliff will continue to be performed by stars. It has two versions; the “classic” one is performed by more experienced renowned Peking Opera artists such as Yu Kuizhi, Meng Guanglu, Li Hongtu and Li Shengsu, while the “youth” version is performed by younger ones such as Zhang Jianfeng, Wang Yue and Jin Xiquan, whose performances are by no means inferior to the classic one. The two generations of Peking Opera artists will then bring wonderful performances to the spectators on the same stage.
“Respect tradition and dare to innovate” is the artistic idea upheld throughout the creation of Red Cliff. Different from other traditional operas, TV programs and films with the same subject, the new epic Peking Opera Red Cliff shows great innovation both in story line and characterization. Some major plots, such as “A Verbal Dispute with Some Idea-men for War”, “Borrowing Arrows by Scarecrow-soldiers on Boats” and “Battle of Red Cliff”, as well as heroes and Xiao Qiao are all performed in a new artistic expression. Just as what dramatist Xu Chengbei said after watching it, “This is a successful play, with beautiful lyrics and compact plots, representing original historical facts and showing a new image of Zhou Yu, meanwhile, Zhuge Liang gets off the “alter” and acts like a ordinary people, so it more caters to the taste of modern people. “
There is a slight difference from the traditional expression with “One table and two chairs”, Chief Director Zhang Jigang and Stage Designer Gao Guangjian made bold innovations and created several marvelous scenes, such as “Borrowing Arrows by Scarecrow-soldiers on Boats” and “Battle of Red Cliff”, all of which present a unique romantic appeal of Peking Opera. Chief Director Zhang Jiang said frankly after the debut:”Red Cliff is as good as what I has expected. but all my works are simply close to be perfect, so my team and I will polish it and make it closer to perfect.” Meanwhile, by inheriting traditions, Costume Designer Song Li and Aria Designer Zhu Shaoyu have both made successful exploration in their fields respectively.
As a unique treasure in Chinese culture, Peking Opera has particular national value and aesthetic value. NCPA, a national for performing arts centre, has committed itself to promoting art treasures of our nation and carrying forward our traditional culture. The grand new epic Peking Opera Red Cliff has catered to the taste of youngsters by expressing the charm of Peking Opera in new forms, and thus opened a new era of Peking Opera. After being improved for a whole winter, Red Cliff will display again its splendor this spring, as the brand play of NCPA.
(Source: ebeijing.gov.cn)