Red Poppy Explained

Red Poppy is an all female percussion group from China.[1] They are the first all-female percussion band from China.[2] The percussion ensemble includes twenty full-time performers.[3] Red Poppy uses over forty different types of Chinese and Western percussion instruments.[4] They have performed in over 50 countries and were involved in the Beijing Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

History

Red Poppy was founded in 1999. Manager Zhou Li says that the name "Red Poppy" was chosen because it was considered both "beautiful and powerful."[5] Red Poppy started with one member and has expanded after the success of the first performance in Europe.[6] One of their first original songs dating back to 1999, is called "Chinese Dragon" and includes both Western and Chinese influences. They came to national attention in China when they performed in 2001 on China Central Television (CCTV) for the Spring Festival Party.[7]

In 2005, Red Poppy performed during the five-day Chinese New Year festival held in Dublin's Chinatown.[8]

In 2008, Red Poppy performed for the Beijing Olympics in the opening and closing ceremonies. They also recorded ahead of time in Sydney for Channel 7.[9] In June 2008, the group performed in Amman.[10]

In January 2013, Red Poppy performed on Broadway, showcasing their original take on the story of Hua Mulan in "Mulan the Musical." The version of the Mulan story presented by Red Poppy involves pantomime, dance and percussion.[11] Due to popular demand, Red Poppy returned to Broadway again in 2014.[12] Red Poppy toured Scotland and performed in London in 2015.[13]

Critical reception

Tim Page, writing in The Washington Post, called a 2005 performance "diluted" by "insipid synth-pop."[14] Page, however, did praise the skill of the musicians themselves, saying that they "rattled, roared, pounced and parried in high style."

A 2013 performance at New York's Peter Jay Sharp Theater was well-reviewed, with The New York Times reviewer only complaining about some of the visuals incorporated into the performance.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Red Poppy Gains Wide Acclaim in the US. 8 October 2005. 31 December 2015. People's Daily Online.
  2. Web site: Female Musicians Wow Audiences from Broadway to Beijing. 31 December 2015. Beijing International. The Beijing Government.
  3. Web site: Red Poppy Ladies' Percussion. 31 December 2015. Wu Promotion. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151219195320/http://www.wupromotion.com/en/chinese-artists/chinese-traditional-music/788-red-poppy-ladies-percussion-2015. 19 December 2015.
  4. Web site: Introduction to Red Poppy Ladies' Percussion. 31 December 2015. China Culture. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110313181217/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artists/2005-02/16/content_66013.htm. 13 March 2011.
  5. Web site: 'Mulan the Musical' Press Conference. 26 December 2012. 31 December 2015. Asian in NY. Bourne. Christopher.
  6. News: Mulan the Musical: China's only female percussion group presents new show. Apter. Kelly. 24 February 2015. The List. 31 December 2015.
  7. Web site: The Cream of China's Girl Bands. 31 December 2015. China Culture. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121112182737/http://www1.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/11/content_70439.htm. 12 November 2012.
  8. News: Five-Day Chinese Festival Begins in Dublin. Kelly. Olivia. 10 February 2005. Irish Times. 31 December 2015. EBSCO. subscription .
  9. News: Red Poppy Hits an Olympics Crescendo. Lalak. Alex. 3 March 2008. Daily Telegraph. 31 December 2015. EBSCOhost. subscription .
  10. Web site: China's 'Red Poppy' Blossoms in Jordon. https://web.archive.org/web/20090830073805/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/12/content_8355479.htm. dead. August 30, 2009. 12 June 2008. 31 December 2015. Xinhua Net.
  11. News: A Female Warrior's Exploits, Blow by Blow. Jaworowski. Ken. 28 December 2012. The New York Times. 31 December 2015.
  12. News: The Red Poppy Ladies to Return to NYC with Mulan the Musical. 28 May 2014. Broadway World. 31 December 2015.
  13. News: Mayor of London Welcomes London's Chinese New Year Celebrations. https://web.archive.org/web/20160410062246/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-402219870.html. dead. 10 April 2016. 19 February 2015. States News Service. 31 December 2015.
  14. News: Red Poppy's Pound-Foolish Percussion. https://web.archive.org/web/20160410070936/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-66322.html. dead. 10 April 2016. Page. Tim. 8 October 2005. The Washington Post. 31 December 2015 .

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