Before the curtains rise
By Li Anlan |
May 3, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE performing arts are growing in popularity, but some who are interested shy away from attending because they fear they may not understand the story or music.
Shanghai's art venues have been working hard to bridge this gap by offering lectures and classes, often for free, about upcoming performances.
Tomorrow afternoon, for example, musicians from the Italian classical chamber orchestra I Solisti Veneti will give a lecture about Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" and Baroque music at Shanghai Oriental Art Center. It is free. It's designed to prepare people for their concert on Sunday night. The event is limited to two tickets per theater member although the general public also had a chance to attend by booking three days in advance, subject to availability.
A music lecture on string ensembles and an analysis of five masterpieces by Professor Qian Renping of Shanghai Conservatory of Music is next, followed by a master class by Italian classical guitarist Riccardo Tamai. He will perform and teach some playing techniques to the audience. Qian's lecture is on a first come, first serve basis for everyone while the master class has no admission limits.
Learn more in advance
The first Saturday of every month is dedicated to events like this at Shanghai Oriental Art Center. They are usually related to upcoming performances, giving people a chance to learn more in advance. Although these are membership events, non-members can also attend.
Daning Theatre has recently hosted a special lecture and presentation of the ballet "La Sylphide," one of the oldest romantic ballets in the world. Shanghai Ballet presented the event in the hope of educating more people about ballet and this production.
The tickets for the event were 20 yuan (US$3.25) to 50 yuan. It was the most direct way for people to get close to the art form and get a visual impression, says Wu Hao, ballet master at Shanghai Ballet.
"Many people really want to watch ballet, but because they don't understand it, some have a fear of coming to theaters," Wu says. "We lowered the cost and attracted some who haven't gone to the theater to watch ballet before."
Dancers performed a few scenes of "La Sylphide" while lectures compared different choreographies in China and abroad with video recordings.
A bigger audience
Wu says they have been doing these educational classes for years to introduce more people to the art form. The troupe gives classes at Shanghai Grand Theatre every year and, according to Wu, tickets usually sell out fast.
Shanghai Ballet is staging "La Sylphide" on May 18 at Daning Theatre.
Meanwhile, the venues have found that investing in educational programs helps cultivate audiences for classical music and dance, while also promoting the shows and ticket sales.
"One time at Daning, after we finished a session, many people in the audience lined up at the ticket office to buy tickets," Wu says. "Theaters need companies and troupes, and we also need stages, it is a win-win for both sides."
Other venues and performance groups have worked together to provide educational programs. The events, usually designed for members, are open to the general public as well with different ways to reserve seats.
At Shanghai Culture Square, the first Saturday of each month is an open day. In addition to lectures, there are also various workshops and contests. They range from singing classes, drama training, screenings of films and musicals, and backstage stories. Performers from the shows give a short preview and teach at the same time.
Wang Zuoxin, professor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music, teaches the singing workshops. Every session she picks a musical to explain it along with singing techniques. Attendees may even have the opportunity to perform in front of the class.
Non-members can also reserve seats to various activities by following the venue's Weibo microblog and watching out for notices.
Last year, a total of 69 events took place at Shanghai Culture Square, including seven singing workshops, six lectures, four face-to-face sessions with famous experts and 11 screenings.
Events for the remainder of this year are still being planned and will be announced once confirmed.
Shanghai's art venues have been working hard to bridge this gap by offering lectures and classes, often for free, about upcoming performances.
Tomorrow afternoon, for example, musicians from the Italian classical chamber orchestra I Solisti Veneti will give a lecture about Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" and Baroque music at Shanghai Oriental Art Center. It is free. It's designed to prepare people for their concert on Sunday night. The event is limited to two tickets per theater member although the general public also had a chance to attend by booking three days in advance, subject to availability.
A music lecture on string ensembles and an analysis of five masterpieces by Professor Qian Renping of Shanghai Conservatory of Music is next, followed by a master class by Italian classical guitarist Riccardo Tamai. He will perform and teach some playing techniques to the audience. Qian's lecture is on a first come, first serve basis for everyone while the master class has no admission limits.
Learn more in advance
The first Saturday of every month is dedicated to events like this at Shanghai Oriental Art Center. They are usually related to upcoming performances, giving people a chance to learn more in advance. Although these are membership events, non-members can also attend.
Daning Theatre has recently hosted a special lecture and presentation of the ballet "La Sylphide," one of the oldest romantic ballets in the world. Shanghai Ballet presented the event in the hope of educating more people about ballet and this production.
The tickets for the event were 20 yuan (US$3.25) to 50 yuan. It was the most direct way for people to get close to the art form and get a visual impression, says Wu Hao, ballet master at Shanghai Ballet.
"Many people really want to watch ballet, but because they don't understand it, some have a fear of coming to theaters," Wu says. "We lowered the cost and attracted some who haven't gone to the theater to watch ballet before."
Dancers performed a few scenes of "La Sylphide" while lectures compared different choreographies in China and abroad with video recordings.
A bigger audience
Wu says they have been doing these educational classes for years to introduce more people to the art form. The troupe gives classes at Shanghai Grand Theatre every year and, according to Wu, tickets usually sell out fast.
Shanghai Ballet is staging "La Sylphide" on May 18 at Daning Theatre.
Meanwhile, the venues have found that investing in educational programs helps cultivate audiences for classical music and dance, while also promoting the shows and ticket sales.
"One time at Daning, after we finished a session, many people in the audience lined up at the ticket office to buy tickets," Wu says. "Theaters need companies and troupes, and we also need stages, it is a win-win for both sides."
Other venues and performance groups have worked together to provide educational programs. The events, usually designed for members, are open to the general public as well with different ways to reserve seats.
At Shanghai Culture Square, the first Saturday of each month is an open day. In addition to lectures, there are also various workshops and contests. They range from singing classes, drama training, screenings of films and musicals, and backstage stories. Performers from the shows give a short preview and teach at the same time.
Wang Zuoxin, professor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music, teaches the singing workshops. Every session she picks a musical to explain it along with singing techniques. Attendees may even have the opportunity to perform in front of the class.
Non-members can also reserve seats to various activities by following the venue's Weibo microblog and watching out for notices.
Last year, a total of 69 events took place at Shanghai Culture Square, including seven singing workshops, six lectures, four face-to-face sessions with famous experts and 11 screenings.
Events for the remainder of this year are still being planned and will be announced once confirmed.
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