This year coincides with the 100th anniversary of Puccini's death. The National Center for the Performing Arts' production of Puccini's opera "Girl of the West" will be performed from July 23 to 27, marking the occasion with this sophisticated production with a strong "cinematic feel". The prologue of a great music master.
The opera "Girl of the Golden West" is an alternative among Puccini's works. It is a lyric opera with the gold diggers in the American West as the background, based on David Belasco's play "Girl of the Golden West". In addition to Puccini's lyrical and sweet melody, the whole play also emphasizes musical drama. It not only has brand-new harmonies and orchestration methods, but also intersperses contemporary and local folk music, injecting this purely American theme. With a strong regional color, it vividly depicts the gold rush in the American Midwest in the mid-19th century. In 2019, the National Center for the Performing Arts launched a new production of Puccini's opera "Girl of the West". It was the opera's first appearance on the Chinese stage. The performance received rave reviews from the audience, and won praise for its magnificent stage design, wonderful singing and moving music. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death, and the National Center for the Performing Arts once again grandly launches this play. On the day of
’s visit, the actors of the play brilliantly presented the first scene in the rehearsal hall. The action scene of the fight in the tavern was thrilling. Dozens of actors were on the same stage, some drinking and some chatting. As the plot progressed, conflicts were about to break out. Tables and chairs were overturned, wine glasses flying in the air. The actors performed every action extremely realistically, as if this was not a rehearsal stage, but actually in a tavern where there was a fierce conflict.
"There are some old actors here, and there are also new actors joining in, bringing new strengths and character relationships. We put the best of the actors together. To some extent, this is a brand new show. "After five years, the emerging international director Thaddeus Strasberg returned to Beijing to direct "Women of the West". For this "alternative" in Puccini's opera, Strasberg He has his own understanding, "Everyone says this opera is like a western blockbuster. When we think of a western blockbuster, the first thing that comes to mind is the vast desert scenes. They all belong to the same genre, but the opera is more thrilling and has more human tension. The story is told It’s the close relationship between people.”
What made Strasberg sigh is that although the cast has changed in the past five years, everyone was very well prepared before rehearsals began. The singers, chorus, and technical staff behind the scenes are all very professional and have given this revival a good start."
This round of performances will be conducted by the famous Italian opera conductor Carlo Leeds, and American soprano Jennifer. Raleigh, three of the world's top singers, Italian tenor Marco Berti and baritone Claudio Scoura, presented together with the National Center for the Performing Arts opera singers, chorus, orchestra, and Chinese and foreign young singers .
Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death, Strasberg once again put this classic work on the stage. Strasberg believed that it was a good opportunity to understand Puccini. “We hope that this performance will not be particularly exaggerated or artificial. The performance, all the characters are believable, making everyone feel as if they are living in this environment. We understand the complexity of human nature through Puccini, and hope to show human nature more directly. For the actors, it is very important. The important task is to bring real humanity to the stage, which is actually difficult because the music of this play itself is difficult, it is difficult to sing, and there are many details to deal with, so even though what is shown on the stage is very relaxed feeling, but in fact this is not an easy job.”
article/Beijing Youth Daily reporter intern Zhou Yijun
article/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Tian Wanting
Photography/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Li Na
