China News Service, Beijing, December 30 (Reporter Ying Ni) The original Russian musical "Anna Karenina" was performed at the Beijing Tianqiao Art Center on the evening of the 29th. Explosive performances, diverse music styles, dazzling and magnificent dances, and gorgeous costumes bring authentic "Russian style".
Stills from the original Russian musical "Anna Karenina". Photo courtesy of Tianqiao Art Center
The play is adapted from Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece, presenting the subtle psychological and emotional depth in the novel on a stage. The musical's characters struggle with controversial emotions - love and betrayal, passion and duty, hope and despair. Although nearly a century and a half has passed since the story took place, the plot unfolding before the audience is still gripping and touching.
The curtain opened, and the famous train scene suddenly appeared. The sound of ancient train whistles came, and the punk-style steel frame and locomotive appeared on the stage. The biggest feature of the play is the famous train scene. From the setting of the character "train conductor" to the dance movement design of the dancers like train parts, from the display of dance elements such as "locomotive" and "gears" to the expression of "train of life" in the lyrics... when Anna and Wo When Lenski meets for the first time, the multimedia background shows train gears of different sizes rotating forward while interlocking with each other, suggesting that "the gears of fate begin to turn"... This element not only runs through the whole play, but also brings joy to the audience in the ending. Drama climax.
Stills from the original Russian musical "Anna Karenina". Picture courtesy of Tianqiao Art Center
On the stage, nine mobile screens, metal structures weighing several tons and hundreds of lighting devices are combined on the stage to project real scenes such as palace balls, wheat fields, train stations, etc. Groups of video screens are constantly changing and moving, from a 19th-century opera house to an ice rink, a luxurious palace to a summer countryside. The scenes of the whole drama change smoothly, making the audience feel as if they are actually there, traveling through it in a second. Classic arias such as "The Train Conductor's Aria", "The Snowstorm", "If You're Not By My Side", "Oh, My Love", etc. appear one by one. The more than 40 pieces of music in the whole play include arias in various styles such as classical, pop and rock, perfectly It enhances the plot and creates the atmosphere. Figure skating, modern dance, ballet, court dance, Russian folk dance and other art forms bring a visual and auditory feast to the audience.
Stills from the original Russian musical "Anna Karenina". Photo courtesy of Tianqiao Art Center
Since its launch in 2016, the play has been highly praised. It has not only won awards such as "Hot of the Season" and "Audience Star" in Russia's "Best Musical" category, it has also been ranked among the top Russian musicals. It became the first musical in Russian history to be filmed and screened around the world.
It is reported that the original Russian musical "Anna Karenina" will continue to be performed at the Tianqiao Art Center until January 1, 2024. (End)
[Editor: Tian Boqun]
