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Presenter: Huajin Dance Drama Troupe of Shanxi Occupational Art Institute
Playwight / Choreographer / Director: Zhang Jigang
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts-Opera House
Dates: March 10 – 12, 2009    19:30

Programme Introduction

Holding a connection with the drama Autumn Begins, the dance drama A Handful of Sour Dates showcases the strong will and sagacity of Shanxi merchants during the Ming and Qing Dynasty, praising their loyalty of love and honesty of the client. The storyline of the dance drama is based on the life experience of its choreographer and director Zhang Jigang, a native Shanxi people, who has devoted his unique understanding of both the culture of Shanxi merchants and the enchanting land. His choreography embodies a love tragedy with the scenes of red lanterns hanging in typical Shanxi big yards, sunset on ancient Silk Road as well as the colorful wild jujube woods.

Synopsis
A Handful of Sour Dates draws a vivid picture of a sorrowful love story with dance, music and stage art: during the early years of the Republic of China, Widow Jia has brought up her silly son, the young master Yin, who is the only child of the wealthiest family in Jinzhong, Shanxi. The seneschal of Family Jia manages to force the marriage between his bastard daughter Suanzao and the silly young master. However, true love has been burning between the laborious servant and Suanzao, who makes an oath to each other with a handful of sour dates. Their struggle against the fate stops when the seneschal puts poison into the love pouch of the poor lovers…

Huajin Dance Drama Troupe of Shanxi Occupational Art Institute
The Huajin Dance Drama Troupe of Shanxi Occupational Art Institute (SOAI) was established under the strategy of Shanxi Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government to build a “strong cultural province” and SOAI’s orientation towards combining the occupational art education institution with performance entities. Famous dance director Mr. Zhang Jigang is the lifelong artistic director of the Troupe. Since its establishment, the Troupe has participated in the 2008 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the 10th Awarding Ceremony of Five Excellent Works for Cultural and Ethical Progress and China Federation of Literary and Art Circles 2008 CCTV Spring Festival Evening Party. Besides, it has designed and organized such large shows as the Shanxi TV Spring Festival Evening Party, the opening ceremony of Pingyao International Photography Festival (for four years in a row) and “The Same Song” in Shanxi, and has received wide applause.

(Source: ebeijing.gov.cn)

A Romantic Trip to Germany and Austria — Concert by China National Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Marco Parisotto
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts-Concert Hall
Dates: March 15, 2009    19:30
Price:  VIP    480    380    280    180    80 RMB

Programme Introduction

China National Symphony Orchestra
China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) is one of the most outstanding professional symphony orchestras in China. Originally founded as the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China in 1956, the orchestra was restructured and renamed in 1996. Leading the CNSO into the future are Director Guan Xia (Composer), Laureate Conductor Muhai Tang, Principal Resident Conductor Li Xincao, and Principal Guest Conductor En Shao.

For almost half a century, the CNSO has introduced Chinese audiences to a vast repertoire of classical, romantic, modern and contemporary orchestral works by both Western and Asian composers.

Throughout its history, the CNSO has collaborated with many world famous artists in order to bring excellence to its audiences. CNSO audiences have been thrilled by famous conductors such as Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit, Kurt Masur, Slatkin, Rozhestvendsky, Schwarz and Peress. Other well-known guest artists have included composer and conductor Krzystof Penderecki, instrumentalists David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Mutter, Martha Argerich, Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, Shaham, Wang Jian, Lang Lang, Li Yundi, Lin Choliang and Lindemann.

The CNSO has toured throughout the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Australia, Mexico, Japan, DPR of Korea, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, giving successful performances to critical acclaim by the international press. In London, a music critic for The Times praised the CNSO as “a mature group with a vital sound”. American music critics noted that “the CNSO is an honorable member of the world music stage”. In Europe, critics headlined the orchestra as “a great orchestra appears among the Kings of Orchestral Music “.

Marco Parisotto
Born in Montreal, Marco Parisotto is one of Canada’s most acclaimed and visible conductors on the world stage today. A devoted and impassioned musician, he has appeared in major concert halls throughout North America, Europe and Asia, winning critical praise with numerous orchestras as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra,  New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Victoria Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Teatro Verdi Trieste,  Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Georges Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Göteborg Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Ville de Marseille, Orchestre National de Lille, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orchestre Lamoureux at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Philharmonique de Liege, Orquesta Filarmónica de Chihuahua, Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra…

In his eleven-year tenure as Music Director of the Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra (ODSO), he has built the ODSO into a formidable ensemble prized by its city and region. In 2000 he was appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra making him the first foreign person to have held a director’s position in the history of the People’s Republic of China.

As somewhat of a record in the conducting world, Marco Parisotto is the winner of no fewer than seven major international competitions. He crowned these achievements in 1997 with the Besançon International Music Festival, joining the ranks of conductors like Seiji Ozawa, Michel Plasson, Zdenek Macal or Jesus Lopez Cobos. A first in this elite event’s history, he was awarded the Grand Prix as well as the Prix du Public. He gave the Shanghai premiere performances of Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances in 2002.

Programs
Mendelssohn
The Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Mendelssohn
Wedding March

— Intermission —

Bruckner
Symphony No.9

(Source: ebeijing.gov.cn)

Presenter: National Ballet of China
Librettist / Director / Artistic Director: Zhang Yimou
Lead cast: Zhu Yan, Zhang Jian and Wang Qimin
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts-Opera House
Dates: March 14 -15, 2009    19:30
Price:  VIP    500    400    300    200    100 RMB

Programme Introduction

Figure-hugging Chinese cheongsam, a pallet of all the gorgeous colors you can imagine on a theatrical stage, breathtaking melodies, characteristic setting, close-knit arrangements of dancing movements and many more make Raise the Red Lantern a hit worldwide shortly after its debut. It creates great stir in the world ballet community and receives a shower of media praises across Europe. Thanks to it, the National Ballet of China was nominated for the British National Dance Award (the dance world’s equivalent of the Oscars) for Best Foreign Dance Company.

World Tour
Since its world premiere in May 2, 2001, the National Ballet of China presented the full length ballet of Raise the Red Lantern in more than 20 major cities in  China as well as on a world tour to Singapore, Italy, France, UK, USA, Australia, Mexico and Russia. In August 2008, it will debut in Covent Garden, London and in October will embark on a 5-city Korean tour. The ballet’s tour hit the following cities:

May 2001, World Premiere, Tianqiao Theatre, Beijing, China

July 2001, Taibei Cultural Centre, Taiwan, China

March 2002, Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Macao Cultural Centre, China

Oct. – Nov. 2002, Esplanade-Theatres On the Bay, Singapore

Oct. - Nov. 2003, European Tour, Modena and Parma Italy, Maison de le Culture at Nevers, Auditorium at Dijon and Thèatre musical de Paris Châtelet, France, and Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London, UK.

Sept. - Oct. 2005, USA Tour, UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, San Francisco, Segerstrom Hall of Orange County Performing Arts Center, Los Angeles, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC, Howard Gilman Opera House of Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York

April 2006, the Capitol Theatre, Sydney

June 2007, Athens Concert Hall，Greece

Oct. 2007 Festival Internacional Cervantino, Guanajuato-Mexico

Nov. 2007, Year of China in Russia, the Central Army Theatre, Moscow

August 2008, Convert Garden (Royal Opera House), London

October 2008, Korean Tour

Synopsis
Prologue
1920s, China. In a quiet courtyard, a young girl is forced into a bridal palanquin. She is going to be the second concubine of the master of the house. Before getting into the palanquin, she remembers her childhood lover – a young actor from a Peking opera group (Xi Ban).

Act I
In the joyful atmosphere of the wedding, the wife and the first concubine of the master welcome the second concubine into the family with complex emotional undertones. During the wedding night, despite her desperate resistance, the bride is finally overcome by her tragic destiny.

Act II
The master passes time with his wife and concubines by watching Peking opera and playing mah-jong. The second concubine sneaks out for a while to meet her former lover, the young actor. But their secret is discovered by the first concubine who has ulterior motives.

Act III
The two lovers continue their love affairs in secret. The first concubine tells the master about their affair. The master catches the two lovers who bravely confess without hesitation. The first concubine tries to use this occasion to renew her favor in the eyes of the master. However, she received a heavy slap on the face instead. Driven by depression, she grabs the lighting stick, which symbolizes the master’s power over his household and lights all the red lanterns hanging in her yard. In great fury, the master orders his minions to execute the first concubine who dares to break his house law.

Epilogue
The two lovers and the first concubine are taken to the execution ground. Facing death, they forget their hostilities, and reconcile with each other. In tolerance and affection, they embrace together. Feudalism strangles their young life and beautiful love.

National Ballet of China
Founded on 31 December 1959, the National Ballet of China is China’s only national ballet company.  Its dancers and musicians are all graduates from professional dance academies and music conservatories across China. Since the day it was founded, the company has received continuous support from the Chinese government. In its early days, Russian ballet master Pyotr Gusev and other Russian teachers helped lay a solid foundation for the company using their experience in the Russian School of classical ballet. For more than 40 years, the National Ballet of China has introduced many outstanding classical ballets and contemporary ballet works to the Chinese audience. At the same time, it has attached great importance to creating a unique fusion between western classical ballet and Chinese culture. They have achieved this by creating their own ballets, which represents the varied characteristics of the Chinese nation. Today, the company has a broad repertoire and has successfully trained many generations of outstanding artists. Through international cultural exchange, The National Ballet of China has attracted the attention of the international ballet world.

(Source: ebeijing.gov.cn)