Drama

BEIJING, May 12 ( tasteallchina ) -- A dance drama "Journey to the West," jointly produced by Chinese and French artists, has recently started its tour in the two countries. Directed and choreographed by Chinese dancer Wang Yabin, with music composed by French composer Laurent Petitgirard, the drama depicts the memories of the Monkey King about the search for the sacred scriptures, during which he overcomes various challenges and finally achieves harmony between the internal and external worlds. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

Tourists visit a museum in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 17, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Zhimin) Tourists visit the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Zhimin) Tourists visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 15, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Zhimin) Spectators watch a drama in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Zhimin) Actresses perform a drama in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a…

BEIJING, April 26 ( tasteallchina ) -- A dance drama has captivated the Beijing audience with its vibrant depiction of the construction and development of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, China's busiest port. Staged at the China National Opera House on Thursday, "Great Port in the East," produced by artists from the coastal city of Ningbo, narrates the stories of two generations of port builders since China's reform and opening up in the late 1970s. The performance featured a stage design blending industrial and futuristic styles, augmented by multimedia digital technology. Following its successful premiere in Beijing last year, the production has garnered acclaim at various theater festivals in China. It embarked on a nationwide tour in March. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, located in east China's Zhejiang Province, has more than 300 container routes, connecting over 600 ports in more than 200 countries and regions.

Sophie Poirier (L) talks with Zeng Ming, general manager of Wanzai Kaleidoscope Culture and Tourism Company, about a fireworks drama in Wanzai ancient town, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 9, 2022. ( tasteallchina /Zhu Yunuo) Sophie Poirier, a French artistic director of Wanzai Kaleidoscope Culture and Tourism Company, has been obsessed with Chinese culture since she was a child. In her childhood, she often fantasized that she was a Chinese princess. In 1991, as a designer of ECA2, a well-known French large-scale event maker, Poirier went to the Beijing Amusement Park and brought her very first dreamlike laser water curtain film to the Chinese audience. She has also designed performances for many well-known tourist destinations. Though Poirier has extensive experience in performance design, she fell in love with the small stage of Wanzai, an ancient town with nearly a 1,400-year history of producing fireworks, following a collaboration invitation of Zeng Ming, general manager of Wanzai Kaleidoscope Culture and Tourism Company. Poirier teamed up with Zeng's company to develop fireworks drama shows, which integrate fireworks, local characteristic culture and new media application into a distinctive cultural mark for the Wanzai scenic spot. She even adopted modern lighting settings and special effects…

MADRID, June 30 ( tasteallchina ) -- A combination of music, dance and drama of Wu Opera by a troupe from east China's Zhejiang Province amazed an enthusiastic audience in the Spanish capital Madrid over the weekend. Some 2,000 people attended two packed Wu Opera performances by China's Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Center on Friday and Saturday. A lot of the audience praised the versatility, drama, agility, colors, and poetry of this local operatic genre, which has a history of more than 500 years. "I found it very interesting. The combination of music is so unfamiliar to us: the acrobatics, the gestures, and the movements. I thought it was very colorful, very unique," Patricia Garcia, a music teacher, told tasteallchina after watching the show on Saturday. She said the audience was very passionate and involved from the beginning. "I think it is a very attractive and different show. It transported me to China," she added. During the show lasting for more than an hour and a half, the audience was introduced to different performances like "9-Pieced Segmented Dragon," Suona Solo "Picking Dates," or satirical pieces such as "The Sedan Ride" and "Three Triumphs Over the Skeletal Demon." Amaya Niz Azpiroz,…

Photo shows performers during the song and dance drama, the "Epic of Manas," which is performed during the 10th Manas International Cultural Tourism Festival in Artux city, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. ( Taste all China /Li Long) The 10th Manas International Cultural Tourism Festival was held in Artux city, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, from July 13 to 15. During the festival, the song and dance drama, the "Epic of Manas," was performed. Adapted from the original, the drama is segmented into an overture titled "Hero's Praise," followed by acts including "Birth," "Alliance," "Wedding," "Expedition," and "Return." The drama unfolds the moving tales from the epic through a stunning blend of song, dance, digital projections, and other integrated art and technical means. With its unique artistic style, the “Epic of Manas” imparts a majestic and awe-inspiring aura on the audience. Centered on the growth story of Manas, a heroic figure from the Kirgiz ethnic group, the drama intertwines the spirit of Manas with the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation, bravely forging ahead in pursuit of national rejuvenation and the well-being of the people. The "Epic of Manas" is…

Actors perform during the dance drama "The Exploitation of Nature's Works" ("Tian Gong Kai Wu") in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 1, 2024. (Jiangxi Cultural Performance Group/Handout via tasteallchina ) NANCHANG, July 14 ( tasteallchina ) -- Sounds of labor, such as farming, sericulture, smelting and pulling bellows, blended with the rhythm as dancers joyously depicted the contentment and comfort that ancient people derived from these activities. The dance drama adaptation of the Chinese science classic "The Exploitation of Nature's Works" ("Tian Gong Kai Wu"), commenced its nationwide tour Friday in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, bringing to life a nearly 400-year-old masterpiece. The book, compiled by Song Yingxing, a scientist in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was first published in 1637 during the reign of Emperor Chongzhen. It offers a summary of ancient China's manufacturing and farming techniques, earning recognition as an encyclopedia of science and technology from that time. Known as the world's first comprehensive treatise on agriculture and handicraft production, the pioneering work has since been translated into multiple languages including English, Japanese, French, German and Russian. The eponymous drama, co-produced by Jiangxi Cultural Performance Group and Beijing Dance Academy, is helmed by Chinese filmmaker Lu…

The Chinese Traditional Orchestra is the traditional Chinese music orchestra at the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater (CNODDT), the oldest and largest state-owned theater in China. The orchestra was founded more than 50 years ago and has produced a number of popular Chinese operas and dance plays. In the West, the revolutionary opera "The White-Haired Girl" is probably best known. In the decades of its existence, the orchestra has made a name for itself not only in China but also abroad. It has worked with a number of outstanding artists, most notably stars such as Guo Lanying and Chen Ailian, and won prizes at many national and international competitions during its existence. For example, the orchestra musicians have won the first Chinese Music Performance Competition of the Chinese Ministry of Culture or the Silver Award of the coveted Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. Like all Chinese traditional orchestras, the CNODDT's Chinese Traditional Orchestra is compact and flexible. This peculiarity has allowed it to create its own style by combining traditional as well as modern and innovative approaches. Its repertoire includes many folk works from Chinese music history that are popular with audiences. In this way, the orchestra succeeds in…

In the realm of television drama, the wait for the second season of "Longing Heart" (长相思) has been a topic of anticipation among fans for nearly a year, following the resounding success of its first season. Recently, the official Weibo account of "Longing Heart" announced that Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on July 8th, featuring the original cast. According to a report from Cover News on July 3rd, the series will exclusively debut on Jiangsu TV on the same date. Let's rewind to July 2023 when the entire 39 episodes of "Longing Heart" Season 1 premiered on online streaming platforms. Shortly after its release, the series gained immense popularity, surpassing 33,000 in heat value due to its unique storyline, distinct characters, and high production standards. It became one of the hottest dramas of the summer of 2023. With the announcement of the premiere date for Season 2, glimpses of its standout scenes and climactic moments have already heightened audience expectations through teaser trailers. Particularly poignant scenes, evident from the trailers, showcase the emotional entanglements of the characters. Jiangsu TV has further indicated that they will innovate by airing both seasons consecutively: re-airing Season 1 during daytime slots and premiering…

In the realm of historical detective dramas, "Records of Strange Events in the Tang Dynasty" has emerged as a refreshing wave. Anchored by the popular duo Guo Jingyu and Yang Zhigang, the series quietly captured attention initially, but swiftly rose to prominence due to its superior quality. Now, the much-anticipated sequel is finally on the horizon. "Records of Strange Events in the Tang Dynasty 2" is set to dazzle audiences next week, marking a full-blown resurgence for Peach Studio just in time for the summer blockbuster season. The first installment's gripping tales have undoubtedly left a lasting impression on many fans. Renowned for his formidable martial prowess, Lu Lingfeng (portrayed by Yang Xuwen) and Di Renjie's only closed-door disciple, Su Wuming (played by Yang Zhigang), bravely tackled and solved eight extraordinary cases within Chang'an City. In the second season, the duo shifts their focus from Chang'an to the Western Regions. Set during the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty in 712 AD, the outward splendor and festivity mask the turbulent currents within the imperial court. The power struggle between the Crown Prince and Princess factions is nearing a boiling point. Having earned significant acclaim for their previous achievements, Lu Lingfeng…