Variations on a theme

"The TV series set a benchmark for TV producers in China and viewers of all ages have watched it, since TV stations around the country have replayed it thousands of times," says Cao Jiwen, branding director of Shaanxi Opera House and one of the creative teams behind the venue's fifth birthday celebration. "It's amazing that after 35 years, the influence of the TV series thrives the way it does and continues to grow."

Chinese composer Wang Liping will also join in the celebration during the concerts. As the mastermind behind the original music pieces featured in the 1987 TV series－including Wang Ning Mei and Zang Hua Yin－Wang, now in his 80s, spent four-and-a-half years to finish all 13. His compositions, described by critics as "emotional, beautiful and tragic", is said to capture the spirit of Cao Xueqin's novel perfectly.

"Writing the music score for Dream of the Red Chamber had long been my dream. When I read the novel, I imagined writing music for each of the main characters," said Wang Liping in an earlier interview.

Singer Wu Bixia will also sing at the concerts. Since 2005, Wu has been touring the country performing concerts featuring songs from the 1987 TV series.

"When the TV series first aired, I was about 12 years old. I was born into a musical family and loved to sing. I memorized all the lyrics and melodies of the songs from the TV series," recalls Wu. "I also taught my classmates to sing the songs in school.

"The songs are very catchy and beautiful. They sounded very different compared to other songs at that time. Without a high pitch or any intention to show off the composer's techniques, the songs were very simple but deeply touched my heart," she adds.

The TV series also inspired Wu to read the classic novel. As a teenager at the time, she found it hard to follow at first, mostly because of the lack of drama. However, as the story slowly unfolded, she became ever more engrossed in it. "It's a tragedy, full of beautiful sadness, just like the songs," she says.

According to Cao Jiwen, it was actress Deng who helped make the reunion of the TV show's cast members happen.

In 2020, Deng came to Shaanxi Opera House along with her husband, veteran actor-director Zhang Guoli. Zhang performed in Chang'an, a symphony concert themed on Tang Dynasty (618-907) poetry, at the venue.

"We had a great meeting and the idea of bringing more cast members of the 1987 TV series to the opera house started from there," recalls Cao Jiwen.

Besides the concerts, theatrical productions adapted from the classic novel will be staged at Shaanxi Opera House through February, providing an ongoing celebration of the classic novel for months to come, aiming to not only appeal to nostalgic fans, but also inspire a new generation.