Opera tribute to Party’s co-founding father

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November 2, 2018

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Opera tribute to Party’s co-founding father

By Zhang Qian | 00:01 UTC+8 November 2, 2018 |

Print Edition

Shanghai Opera House showcases its latest original work “Li Dazhao” at Shanghai Grand Theater tonight, after two years of preparation.

The two-act opera features the hero in the early 20th century fighting against the monarchy in a struggle for a republic, highlighted with Li’s founding of the Communist Party of China together with Chen Duxiu.

“Li’s story is known to most Chinese, as a representative image of those who sacrificed themselves for a new nation we enjoy today,” says Xu Zhong, president of Shanghai Opera House.

The company chose to make the opera about Li Dazhao as they believe the genre will help tell the hero’s story more powerfully.

Based on his drama script of “Li Dazhao,” playwright Yao Yuan simplified much of the story this time, leaving room for music and emotion. To help audiences recognize the characters better, composer Xu Shuya made a lot of effort to feature their personalities in music to help make their conflicts more real.

It took the creative team two years to make and perfect the opera, including the script, music, costumes and stage settings. Further improvements are expected following feedback from the audiences.

“I hope it will not only be a highbrow opera, but a popular piece of work with melodies widely spread among the audiences,” says Xu.

But that is not an easy job, according to conductor Zhang Guoyong who will conduct the Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra for “Li Dazhao.”

“What many Chinese opera artists are facing is a group of audiences yet to have a feel for opera. Many of them are still appreciating opera simply through stories and songs, while opera is actually a much more than that. It is a comprehensive stage art,” says Zhang.

Making it “appealing to both refined and popular taste” is of course an ideal target for Chinese composers, yet many of them struggling to get the balance right.

“I agree that we have reached a well-grounded moment for opera creation after all those years of preparation. But it is still wise to hold an open attitude for both failure and success, since Rome was not built in one day,” says Zhang.

Date: November 2, 7:15pm

Tickets: 80-580 yuan

Tel: 6386-8686

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater

Address: 300 People’s Ave

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Opera tribute to Party’s co-founding father

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