Shenzhen Daily 2009-12-1
Debra Li
 ALTHOUGH many play the "authentic" card to woo audiences at a live show, producer Zhang Xiaoxue prefers to try various possibilities to confront traditional tastes with bold innovations.
His latest a cappella oratorio "The Peach Blossom Fan 1699" — basically comprising solos, duos and choruses — promises to convey the delicate beauty of Kunqu opera with a successful encounter between traditional Chinese opera and Western music.
"From the first note they hear, people can tell this is Kunqu opera," said Zhang, a professional conductor who has worked with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.
With melodies and rhythms borrowed from the original Kunqu version, the oratorio is the brainchild of composer Liao Naixiong.
"Liao had hoped to create an opera, but later found that an oratorio would be more easily accepted by a Chinese audience," Zhang said.
A music educator, Liao believes that music belongs to everyone and the purpose of teaching and performing music is that more people can enjoy it. An admirer of Qing Dynasty playwright Kong Shangren's "Peach Blossom Fan," Liao chose to work on this piece.
"Fascinated by Kong's epic, Liao had visited Yangzhou City, where ancient battles were fought and scenes from the story actually took place," Zhang said.
It is the eighth edition of the classic Kunqu repertoire "Peach Blossom Fan 1699" since it toured Europe and Asia in 2006. Previous editions included themes for youth, heritage, concert, zhezixi (highlights of the drama) and a multimedia edition.
"Western artists have experimented with choreographing modern ballet to classical music such as Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, and we may in the future also experiment Kunqu opera with modern dance. There is no end to possibilities in art," Zhang said.
The script is faithful to Kong's original with a story quite different from another popular Kunqu opera, "The Peony Pavilion," said veteran Kunqu opera singer Shi Xiaomei. "This is more about the sorrows of being an intellectual who could do nothing but watch his country fall into the hands of Manchu invaders although, of course, there is the compelling love story between this young man and a beautiful courtesan," she said. "Kunqu requires people to relax and sit quietly to enjoy. Once you concentrate, you can appreciate it."
 This version, which premiered at the Beijing Modern Music Festival in 2007, was unprecedented in combining Kunqu opera with Western traditional a cappella, which combines the aria and tunes of Chinese Kunqu opera with a form of oratorio. By using an alien artistic form to interpret Chinese traditional opera, through the practice of musical creation and stage play, the show innovatively explores and creates a musical language that integrates Chinese and Western styles.
"Like coffee and steak, this version will make Western audiences feel more comfortable. Yet, this is no compromise as we retain the essence of Kunqu, not just in music, but in the performance as well."
The producer said that top Kunqu opera singers such as Luo Chengxue and Zhang Zhengyao would sing several numbers during the show and, together with other performers of the Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Theater, they would perform the delicate body movements dressed in exquisite costumes.
The leading soloists would be dramatic tenor Wang Jia, lyric tenor Zhang Yuchen and soprano Zhang Zhang. The Choir of the Music Education Department of the Central Conservatory of Music and the Love Journey Choir of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group will perform the choral singing.
"These two groups represent the top standard of choirs in China," Zhang said.
Synopsis
"The Peach Blossom Fan" tells the love story of the Revival Society poet Hou Fanyu and Qinhuai River courtesan Li Xiangjun. As a historical epic, it reflects the brief splendor and fall of the short-lived Southern Ming Dynasty (1644-1662).
In the illustrious mansions of old Nanjing, Hou and Li have met and pledged their love. Meanwhile, the contemptible Ruan Dacheng, fallen from grace beause of his association with the corrupt court eunuchs, is seeking to rehabilitate himself.
Having discovered that Hou is pressed for money, he anonymously sends him a bridal trousseau for Li. In this way, he hopes to gain Hou's support and be introduced to Revival Society circles.
Li sees through Ruan's ploy, and rejects the gift, thus incurring Ruan's enmity. This leads him to accuse Hou of secretly colluding to rebel against the throne. Hou is forced to flee Nanjing.
The peasant armies have conquered Beijing. Chongzhen Emperor, last ruler of the Ming Dynasty, ends his life by hanging himself on a hill in the Forbidden Palace.
In Nanjing, Ruan and Ma Shiying elevate a member of the imperial family, the prince of Fu, to the throne. At the same time, Ma and Ruan plot to force Li to remarry their henchman, Prefect Tian. Li knocks her head on the ground in refusal.
The Manchu troops intruded into the south, and the Southern Ming Dynasty was conquered. After many twists and turns, Hou and Li are reunited. But, with the nation in ruins, where is home? Finally, the two are converted to Taoism and go to live in monasteries.
Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 5
Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, intersection of Hongli Road and Yitian Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路和益田路交汇处深圳音乐厅)
Tickets: 180-680 yuan
Hotline: 8981-2344, 8284-1888 |