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Dream a reality for two
Li Xudan and Yao Di will play lead female roles in the TV remake of China's most famous classical novel, Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong Lou Meng). But the controversial reality show aimed at casting the new series has failed to find a talent for the main male lead.
Li and Yao were announced as winners at the finale of the reality show, which gave viewers the chance to pick who would reprise roles from the hugely popular 1987 TV series.
Li will play Lin Daiyu, the leading female role in the novel. Chen Xiaoxu, who played this role in 1987, died of cancer last month. Yao will play Xue Baochai, another main female character.
No contestant convinced the jury of his suitability to play Jia Baoyu, the foremost male character in the novel. The crew said they would keep searching.
The reality show was controversial from its beginning, sparking concern contestants could not meet the standards of the former cast.
Director Hu Mei was also reportedly not satisfied with the contestants in the finale and would withdraw if the show's organizers demanded these actors be cast. But in the televised finale last weekend, it seemed that conciliation has been reached, when Hu declared the final results and ensured the two winners would play in the drama.
Folk orchestra's Eastern European festival tour
China Broadcast Chinese Orchestra (CBCO) toured Prague and Russia early this month playing folk and contemporary music at two festivals.
At the invitation of the Prague Spring 62nd International Music Festival, the CBCO played at the Municipal House to an audience of 1,400 under the baton of Peng Jiapeng. The concert started with Dragon Dance, a piece featuring traditional Chinese percussion instruments composed by Xu Changjun. Next was Tan Dun's Northwest Suite and a piece adapted from Yao ethnic dance music. Huo Yuzhen, China's ambassador to the Czech Republic, attended the concert. He said the Chinese orchestra, while not the first to play Prague's Spring Festival, was the largest. The orchestra also played at the Festival of China in Russia. It performed at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow and at the Navy Museum Square in St. Petersburg.
Triumphant tenor's return
Chinese tenor Zhang Yingxi will give a recital at the Beijing Concert Hall on Friday night. Accompanied by the pianist Thomas Rimes from Washington National Opera, Zhang will sing opera arias and duet with Chinese soprano Yao Hong and Korean soprano Ji Young Lee.
Taught by vocal professor Jin Tielin and Song Yi at the China Conservatory of Music, Zhang was a semi-finalist in the 2004 Operalia competition in the United States. He performed two seasons with the Domingo-Cafritz Yong Artists Program, and in May he made his Washington National Opera debut in Macbeth, playing the role of Malcolm. He performed in WNO's Golden Gala concert last season, the Young Artist production of Gianni Schicchi, and the Look-In performance of Madama Butterfly.
Film's new poster child
Established director John Woo's apprentice Alexi Tan released the first poster for Blood Brothers (Tiantang Kou), his maiden feature film. Actors Daniel Wu, of Hong Kong, Zhang Zhen, of Taiwan, and Liu Ye, from the Chinese mainland, appear on the poster.
The film focuses on three young men who come to Shanghai in the 1930s in search of dream. But their ambition and desire drive them to take a wild path. In a show of support for Tan, Woo supervised the film with his old friend, Terence Chang. He also edited a second trailer for the film, which varies greatly from Tan's original trailer. Both trailers will be shown during the Shanghai International Film Festival from June 16 to 24. The film will premiere in early August.
China Daily
(China Daily 06/14/2007 page18)
