Not long ago, The National Centre for the Performing Arts, or NCPA, successfully produced a Chinese version of the Italian opera 'Turandot', which caused a cultural sensation in the musical and opera field. This month, the NCPA presented another grand Italian Opera; "La Boheme" to celebrate the NCPA's first opera festival.
La Boheme is a classical four-act opera by Italian opera master Giacomo Puccini. Since its appearance in 1896, La Boheme is famous for its magnificent musical ballads, delicate emotions and depiction of eternal true love. It has become an everlasting and much loved opera classic for over a hundred years. In this opera Puccini organically integrated youth, life, love, art, persistence and loneliness with the mournful but touching scenes throughout every act.
From May 1st to the 4th, this classic opera was a highlight of the NCPA' first opera festival running from April to July. A Chinese director, conductor, stage designer and various opera artists combined to present a brand new NCPA version of La Boheme. Just as Deng Yijiang, NCPA's vice-president said, "As a national artistic institution, the NCPA not only has the obligation to invite foreign artistic troupes to give performances, it should also be able to create its own productions."
La Boheme tells a story of four impoverished young artists, the poet Rodolfo, the painter Marcello, the musician Schaunard, and the philosopher Calline. They live together in an attic in Paris. Although their lives are poor, they are confident and persistent in their careers.
To make the opera more relevant to Chinese audiences, Chen Xinyi, the director of La Boheme's NCPA version, has taken a bold step and set the story in Beijing's contemporary art centre - the 798 Art Zone. The veteran female director says with confidence that the NCPA's version of La Boheme won't be inferior to western classical versions.
According to the director, the most important motive for her to produce a western opera is to make it acceptable to Chinese audiences. The open and square-built construction style of the 798 art zone suits the free artistic atmosphere that La Boheme seeks to convey. Under such a familiar scene, the western opera will be closer to Chinese audiences. With its two eternal themes of love and freedom, La Boheme can be set at any place in the world.
Email to Friends
Print
Save