"Phantom" (back) and "Christine" (front).
On the evening of July 2, the original English musical "The Phantom of the Opera" made its debut in Shenzhen.
In the evening of July 2nd, Shenzhen Esplanade Art Center. The giant waterfall of roses cascading down, the welcoming staircase filled with romantic lyrics, and the packed opera hall that can accommodate 1,500 people... all just to witness the debut of the original English musical "Phantom of the Opera" in Shenzhen. From July 2nd to August 4th, the first leg of the international tour of the original English version of "Phantom of the Theater", hosted by Beijing Sihaiyiyi Cultural Communication, departs from Shenzhen. The 40 performances in 5 weeks will allow the audience to enjoy world-class audio-visual performances in this midsummer feast.
It is of great significance. The first stop is Shenzhen, "like meeting old friends again"
Shenzhen has a wonderful and indissoluble bond with the musical "Phantom of the Opera". Many years ago, the original version of "The Phantom of the Opera" came to China twice, but it repeatedly missed Shenzhen due to the venue's hardware requirements. In 2023, the Chinese version of "The Phantom of the Opera" finally landed in Shenzhen, and started a tour from Shenzhen. With 24 wonderful performances and a box office of 22 million, it broke the double record of single performance and box office in the Shenzhen musical market, creating a The "highlight moment" of Shenzhen's cultural and performing arts undertakings. The original English version of "Phantom of the Opera" coming to Shenzhen for the first time this year is even more significant: "Phantom of the Opera" 2024 international tour will go from China to the world, and Shenzhen, as the first city where the show will be performed in China, is a "big premiere" in the true sense. stand".
On the afternoon of July 2, the crew of the original English version of "The Phantom of the Opera" held a media meeting at the Esplanade. Regarding the first performance in Shenzhen, the director and starring actors said that it was of great significance for the tour to "set off" from Shenzhen. The crew had passed by Shenzhen many times, and now they finally came to this city, "just like the old man destined by God." "Friends reunited!"
"The Phantom of the Opera" executive director Rainer Fried said: "Shenzhen Station is the first stop of the international tour, and it is of great significance to everyone in the "Phantom of the Opera" troupe. The audience and staff in Shenzhen welcomed "The Phantom of the Opera", which made this stop even more significant. "
At the meeting, the creators shared their thoughts with the media before they even talked about the musical. Favorability of Shenzhen - From the city scenery, food, and electronic products, Grace Roberts, who plays the heroine "Little C", was particularly excited to express her praise for the hotel food delivery robot, "This city is full of technology. ".
A "staging textbook" full of surprises, with scene changes every 5 minutes
"The Phantom of the Opera" has been running for 38 years since it opened at Her Majesty's Theater in London's West End in 1986. To date, it has won four Olivier Awards. It has won more than 70 important drama awards, including 7 Tony Awards, and has traveled to 195 cities in 46 countries, with more than 160 million global audiences.
This tour has many highlights in the cast. "Phantom" actors Jonathan Losmov and "Viscount Raul" Matt Lisi both have rich experience in performing on the stage of "Phantom of the Opera" and have been widely praised. Talking about the work "The Phantom of the Opera", Jonathan Losmov said: "Because "The Phantom of the Opera" was created with love for the beloved, it has the core of love, and the expression of love is also very straightforward, so That’s why it’s so moving.” Matt Lisi revealed a little-known detail: "The attention to detail in The Phantom of the Opera is incredible, even details that the audience cannot see. For example, the letters in the play are all based on the characters of The Phantom of the Opera." "The original work is written word for word, with great attention to detail."
One of the soul characters in the play, the role of "Christine", known as "Little C" by Chinese audiences, was selected from all levels to "break out of the siege." "Newcomer Grace Roberts plays the role, and the performance on July 2 is also her debut. She said in the interview: "When I get out of the boat, I will see the faces of all the audience in the auditorium. This is a very special moment." For the debut of this new "little c", the curtain call was long-lasting. Applause is the best compliment.Some viewers said after the performance that the new "Little C" was "an unexpected surprise. From the image to the voice, she is very 'Christine'!"
The "veteran" performed steadily, and the "newcomer" performed brilliantly, even if " n Brush” senior audiences can also get surprises and freshness from this tour. As a well-deserved "staging textbook" in musicals, "The Phantom of the Opera" has an average scene change every 5 minutes during the more than two hours of performance, and there are countless complicated costumes and props. As large as a luxurious crystal chandelier made of 6,000 beads, as small as various jewelry accessories for the actors... The items required for the performance were transported to the Esplanade using 22 40-foot container trucks. From unloading to loading the stage, the work is complicated but methodical, and all efforts are made to present the most "authentic" performance on the stage.
According to reports, the original version of "Phantom" coming to Shenzhen for the first time is controlled by an international creative team and will faithfully perform the classic version produced by Cameron Mackintosh and the British Real Good Group in 1986 and continues to this day. This also means that globally, the original English musical "The Phantom of the Opera" can only be watched in the West End of London, UK, and Shenzhen, China.
40 shows in 5 weeks will set a new record in the Shenzhen performing arts market
It is particularly worth mentioning that from July 2 to August 4, the original English version of "Phantom of the Theater" will set off a 5-week show in Shenzhen with a total of 40 shows. A dramatic storm, this will not only set a new record in the Shenzhen performance market, but also be a powerful demonstration of the cultural influence of the Greater Bay Area.
It is understood that since "The Phantom of the Opera" announced in February this year that it would restart its international tour, with China as the first stop, domestic musical fans have been eagerly awaiting it. As the starting city of the tour, Shenzhen’s popularity is unprecedented. Before the performance even started, the tickets for the 8 performances in the first week were already sold out, and all the subsequent performances were also sold out. This shows the Shenzhen audience's desire for this high-quality performance.
As a key cultural enterprise in the content sector of China International Culture Group, a subsidiary of Bauhinia Culture Group, Sihai Yiyi has mature experience in performance operation and production. This time Bauhinia Cultural Group chose Shenzhen as the launch site for its blockbuster project "Phantom of the Theater", which not only shows its confidence in Shenzhen's cultural and art market, but also injects new impetus into the cultural construction of the Bay Area.
In recent years, Shenzhen’s cultural and art market has developed strongly, and its cultural radiation to the Greater Bay Area has continued to increase. Last year, the Shenzhen Esplanade performed 24 consecutive performances of the Chinese version of "The Phantom of the Opera", breaking the record for the highest number of consecutive performances in the Shenzhen musical performance market. This year, the original version of "The Phantom of the Opera" will be performed for 40 consecutive performances, which will undoubtedly push this record to new heights. Some industry insiders said that these 40 performances are not only a big test of the musical market capacity of Shenzhen and even the entire Bay Area, but also a deep exploration of the potential of Shenzhen's cultural market.
Written by: Nandu reporter Huang Lu Photography: Nandu reporter Hu Ke
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