Society

Turandot opera production to be staged in Taiwan

By Chen Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-03 07:35

The story took place at the Forbidden City hundreds of years ago, and was revived at the Bird's Nest last October. Now it will move to the Taiwan's Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium at the end of March.

Beijing Artists Management Corp Ltd held a press conference yesterday afternoon at the Forbidden City where Zhang Yimou directed Puccini's opera Turandot in 1998, to announce they will bring the blockbuster show to Taichung for two performances on March 27 and 28.

Zhang did not attend the conference but said in a video: "The team and I will try our best to present an impressive show in Taiwan. We hope audiences will enjoy it."

Ever since he wowed a worldwide audience with the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, Zhang has enjoyed much fame, not just for directing movies, but also for putting on open-air shows.

The veteran director has also done a series of shows at such scenic sites as Lijiang, Guilin and Hangzhou's West Lake. Last October he returned to the Bird's Nest to put on a multimedia version of Turandot, drawing an audience of more than 100,000.

Now the Taiwanese will appreciate the director's masterpiece show for the first time.

"Director Zhang cares a lot about the performance in Taiwan. He called me to say the show in Taiwan will be more significant than any of the previous productions," said lighting designer Sha Xiaolan, who is Zhang's long-time partner from his first Turandot in Florence in 1997, until the Olympic opening ceremony and last year's Bird's Nest Turandot.

Li Qin, general manager of Beijing Artists Management Corp Ltd, said that Zhang's team has a special bond with Taiwan, in that both Zhang and soprano Sun Xiuwei, who will sing the title role, have relatives in Taiwan. Also, assistant director Chen Weiya had his wedding in Taiwan a dozen years ago.

"So everybody is in high spirits knowing the opera will go to Taiwan and will bring to the work a particular passion," Li said.

Turandot opera production to be staged in Taiwan

File photo shows performers at a scene from the famed opera Turandot unfolds at Beijing's National Stadium, or Bird's Nest.[Photo/Xinhua]

Sun said her uncle and cousins in Taiwan have called her to say they will go to the show.

"The Bird's Nest version of Turandot is modern and unique but the Taiwan version will be better. I expect to return to Taiwan where the audiences are very nice," said Zeng Li, the setting and costume designer who once toured Taiwan with the Beijing People's Art Theatre 15 years ago.

The performances in Taichung will be the same as last year's Bird's Nest production, featuring a 17.5-m-high-by-52-m-wide screen to display an animated movie telling the story throughout the two-hour, three-act show.

A huge complex stage will be built at the arena. In the center is a square frame that can be moved forward, bringing with it the emperor and his throne. Two platforms on the stairs move horizontally, meeting at the center.

The show will feature an all-Chinese cast including soprano Sun, tenor Warren Mok as Calaf, soprano Yao Hong singing Liu, and baritone Tian Haojiang. Italian conductor Janos Acs will take the baton.

"I am full of joy to play Turandot in Taiwan. The genius of director Zhang and my musical talent and efforts will bring you deep and unforgettable emotion and beauty. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime performance," he said.

He will conduct a large orchestra and chorus combining the Central Opera House, Taichung Symphony Orchestra and Taichung Philharmonic Orchestra. More than 300 students of Taiwan Sports University will perform the dance and martial arts scenes.

"When we decided to do the project back in December, we knew the most challenging part would be how to put on such a large-scale show with hundreds of local amateur performers in such a short time," said Garrick Cheng, content and program general manager of Taiwan's Bros Sports Marketing, the company that will co-produce the show in Taichung.

"But now I am confident that we will present a wonderful show, after seeing their rehearsals," he said.

Taichung Mayor Jason Hu said in a video at yesterday's conference: "We're honored to have Zhang Yimou's Turandot staged in Taichung and will spend every effort supporting the project. It's a good opportunity for the people of Taiwan to appreciate the show as well as to know the achievement on arts on the Chinese mainland."