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Orchestrating a festival of musical highlights
By Xu Wenwen |
May 8, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AS the music pushes pathos to its climax Violetta sings a duet with Alfredo, and later dies in his arms. At the final curtain, the audience of almost 1,500 rises to give a standing ovation that continues for several minutes, with the cast returning repeatedly for curtain calls.
This production of Verdi's "La Traviata" is the first time a Hangzhou theater has staged an Italian production of an Italian opera - with everything from the director to the stage set and costumes bearing the "Made in Italy" brand.
The show has been organized by the Hangzhou Grand Theater and Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, as part of the Hangzhou Grand Theater International Music Festival, running through to next month.
This will also include performances by the acclaimed Philadelphia Orchestra and Texas A&M University Singing Cadets, who sang for George W. Bush at the White House.
"We are going to establish an international brand of the music festival by maximizing the resources of the local theater and orchestra," says Deng Jingshan, the general manager of Hangzhou Grand Theater, and the director of Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra.
"La Traviata" proves their ambition.
The show, a collaboration with the renowned Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, is directed by the acclaimed Franco Ripa Di Meana, and features Italian baritone Elia Fabbian as Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father. The stage props - right down to an envelope - are made in Italy.
Violetta role is performed by Zhang Liping, a Chinese-Canadian soprano who has sung leading roles in the opera houses of Europe and North America.
Other performers are from Shanghai Opera House and Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra.
"For high-quality concerts and operas, I used to go to Shanghai. But now I can see such authentic performances at home, which is very good," says Hangzhou opera fan Chen Zhenduo, after watching "La Traviata."
Another highlight of the Hangzhou Grand Theater International Music Festival is sure to be the concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra on May 31.
Founded in 1900, the Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the "Big Five" American orchestras, and renowned for its distinctive sound.
It first performed on the Chinese mainland in 1973 and now, 40 years after serving as a United States cultural ambassador to China, the Philadelphia Orchestra has launched the latest chapter of its relationship with the country - with performances and residency activities in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing and Macau.
Conducted by Donald Runnicles, a frequent partner of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the orchestra is to give seven concerts in the five cities during this tour between May 29 and June 10.
And on Children's Day on June 1, a hilarious show is promised by Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra and comedian Dan Kamin, who performs around the world with theaters and symphony orchestras.
? Mozart and Shostakovich Concert
Orchestra: Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Yang Yang
Date: May 11, 7:30pm
? Concert of University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra: University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
Date: May 14, 7:30pm
? Concert of Texas A&M University Singing Cadets
Orchestra: Texas A&M University Singing Cadets
Date: May 24, 7:30pm
? The Glory and The Dream
Orchestra: Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Zhang Guoyong
Date: May 25, 7:30pm
? Concert of Philadelphia Orchestra
Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra
Conductor: Donald Runnicles
Date: May 31, 7:30p
? Magician and Clown
Orchestra: Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Hong Yin
Magician: Dan Kamin
Date: June 1, 7:30pm
? Meeting a Grammy Award Winner
Orchestra: Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Yang Yang
Violinist: Gidon Kremer; Violoncellist: Giedre Dirvanauskaite (they are a couple and Kremer is a Grammy Award winner)
Date: June 8, 7:30pm
Address: Hangzhou Grand Theater, 39 Xinye Rd, Qianjiang New Town
Tel: (0571) 8685-5003
This production of Verdi's "La Traviata" is the first time a Hangzhou theater has staged an Italian production of an Italian opera - with everything from the director to the stage set and costumes bearing the "Made in Italy" brand.
The show has been organized by the Hangzhou Grand Theater and Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, as part of the Hangzhou Grand Theater International Music Festival, running through to next month.
This will also include performances by the acclaimed Philadelphia Orchestra and Texas A&M University Singing Cadets, who sang for George W. Bush at the White House.
"We are going to establish an international brand of the music festival by maximizing the resources of the local theater and orchestra," says Deng Jingshan, the general manager of Hangzhou Grand Theater, and the director of Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra.
"La Traviata" proves their ambition.
The show, a collaboration with the renowned Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, is directed by the acclaimed Franco Ripa Di Meana, and features Italian baritone Elia Fabbian as Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father. The stage props - right down to an envelope - are made in Italy.
Violetta role is performed by Zhang Liping, a Chinese-Canadian soprano who has sung leading roles in the opera houses of Europe and North America.
Other performers are from Shanghai Opera House and Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra.
"For high-quality concerts and operas, I used to go to Shanghai. But now I can see such authentic performances at home, which is very good," says Hangzhou opera fan Chen Zhenduo, after watching "La Traviata."
Another highlight of the Hangzhou Grand Theater International Music Festival is sure to be the concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra on May 31.
Founded in 1900, the Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the "Big Five" American orchestras, and renowned for its distinctive sound.
It first performed on the Chinese mainland in 1973 and now, 40 years after serving as a United States cultural ambassador to China, the Philadelphia Orchestra has launched the latest chapter of its relationship with the country - with performances and residency activities in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing and Macau.
Conducted by Donald Runnicles, a frequent partner of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the orchestra is to give seven concerts in the five cities during this tour between May 29 and June 10.
And on Children's Day on June 1, a hilarious show is promised by Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra and comedian Dan Kamin, who performs around the world with theaters and symphony orchestras.
? Mozart and Shostakovich Concert
Orchestra: Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Yang Yang
Date: May 11, 7:30pm
? Concert of University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra: University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
Date: May 14, 7:30pm
? Concert of Texas A&M University Singing Cadets
Orchestra: Texas A&M University Singing Cadets
Date: May 24, 7:30pm
? The Glory and The Dream
Orchestra: Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Zhang Guoyong
Date: May 25, 7:30pm
? Concert of Philadelphia Orchestra
Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra
Conductor: Donald Runnicles
Date: May 31, 7:30p
? Magician and Clown
Orchestra: Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Hong Yin
Magician: Dan Kamin
Date: June 1, 7:30pm
? Meeting a Grammy Award Winner
Orchestra: Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Yang Yang
Violinist: Gidon Kremer; Violoncellist: Giedre Dirvanauskaite (they are a couple and Kremer is a Grammy Award winner)
Date: June 8, 7:30pm
Address: Hangzhou Grand Theater, 39 Xinye Rd, Qianjiang New Town
Tel: (0571) 8685-5003
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