Red Cliff (Peking opera) explained

Red Cliff
Genre:Historical
Type:Peking opera
Creatortitle1:Playwright
Creatorname1:Cai Fuchao
Creatortitle2:Composer
Creatorname2:Zhu Shaoyu
Creatortitle3:Director
Creatorname3:Zhang Jigang
Company:NCPA
Premiere:[1]
Finalshow:[2]

Red Cliff is a Peking opera by the China NCPA which premiered at the first anniversary of the National Grand Theatre in 2008. The director was the choreographer and PLA lieutenant general Zhang Jigang, best known as deputy chief director of the Beijing Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies.[3] It was written by Cai Fuchao and composed by Zhu Shaoyu.[4]

In China the opera appeared in three versions - for older singers, youth, and children - as part of the educational purpose of the project. The opera then toured Europe.[5]

Synopsis

A dramatised account of the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 AD, the play is based on relevant chapters from the 14th century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong.[5]

Cast

Role Original Other
Zhang Jianfeng
Dou Xiaoxuan
Wang Yue
Chen Junjie
Zhu Qiang
Huang Baixue
Huang Yanzhong
Zhang Kai
Ding Guiling Zhang Shujing
Su Congfa
Qiu Jirong Meng Xianteng
Meixiang (Xiao Qiao's maid) Chen Zhangxia

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peking Opera's Red Cliff Broadcast in Times Square March 16. 5 March 2009. 19 May 2020. Playbill.
  2. Web site: Peking opera Red Cliff to celebrate NCPA's 10th Anniversary. 13 October 2017. 25 May 2020. National Centre for the Performing Arts (China).
  3. Beijing Review - v52 p43 2009 "Modern opera techniques, especially in setting and stage design, enhance the theatrical effects of the performance, as was the case of Red Cliff, a big-budget blockbuster that is rare on Peking Opera stages. Red Cliff 'director Zhang Jigang, who was deputy chief director of the Beijing Olympic Games' opening and closing ceremonies, removed the traditional "one-table-and-two- chairs" setting for a more sophisticated stage design. He said that he ...
  4. Web site: NCPA New Historical Peking Opera: Red Cliff. National Centre for the Performing Arts (China). 19 May 2020.
  5. http://pekingopera.eu/redcliff/en.html Europe tour and programme and plot