Published on Oct 20, 2015

Rating:

Genre: NCPA

Dates: November 29 - December 1, 2015

Venue: Opera House of NCPA

Prices: 100, 280, 400, 460, 520, 580, 680

Features: Based on John Strauss' visit to the US in 1872, the NCPA's new production of music drama The Beautiful Blue Danube will stage in Opera House of NCPA from November 29th to December 1st, 2015.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Credit
Conductor: ZHANG Yi
Director: ZHUO Qing
Stage Design: Emmanuelle Favre
Lighting Design: Vinicio Cheli
Muti-media: Sergio Metalli

Cast
Zong Ping as Johann Strauss
Jiang Kun as Mr. Gilmore
Yuan Hua as as Henrietta Treffz

The Beautiful Blue Danube—Based on John Strauss' visit to the US in 1872, this drama is created with reference to Music, Art and Life—Li Lanqing's Essays on Music.

John Strauss, the famous composer and conductor in Europe, toured in the US at the invitation from broker Gilmore. Unexpectedly, he met with great success in the grand concert which attracted 10,000 audiences. Strauss and his music become popular with more and more people, and spread the fame in the world.

This drama will take a variety of artistic expression forms, and bring together music, dance, drama and other art forms. This drama will not only resound classic songs created by Strauss (such as G'schichten Aus Dem Wienerwald, An Der Schone Blauen Donau and Fruhlingsstimmen), but also follow the approach in combination of multimedia tools and stage scene so as to unveil what John Strauss sees and hears in his visit to the US.

SYNOPSIS
In 1872, everything is so quiet and nice in Austria, where blue sky, bright sunshine, blooming flowers, singing birds and gently-running horses compose a beautiful picture. On the streets, people leisurely enjoy singing. The taverns are bustling, and pure and mellow beer is served. In imperial palaces, women present whirling dance with elegant dress.... John Strauss immerses in his music, and enjoys a happy and comfortable life.

In 1872, everything is full of infinite passion and hope in the US. Running trains, busy factories, tall buildings and brisk cities.... During economic prosperity period, people cherish more expectations for the revitalization of culture. At the invitation of the American broker Gilmore, Strauss decides to go to Boston to take part in World Peace Celebration Concert. For this accomplished musician, he prefers to conquer an entirely unknown world rather than live a quiet life in Vienna. However, although he is psychologically prepared, enthusiasm, unruliness and craziness of the New World overwhelm him and make him extremely regretted. In face of the lineup of 20,000 performance personnel and 100,000 audiences, Strauss almost collapses. He even claims to give up the contract and flee from the scene...

'I do not remember how I make my debut on the stage, but the audiences break into thunderous cheers and applauses. Orchestra and chorus with nearly 20,000 members are around me, but I can barely hear because when I stand on the stage, I actually find that 100 assistants to conductor disappear. In that moment, I really want to immediately return to my quiet and lovely villa in Austria. I almost believe that I certainly can not support to the end of the concert so that I simply regret to the utmost extent...' But, Strauss' US tour not only changes his awareness of the US, but also reverses his later creation path, and even changes the current status of the US classical music and imposes far-reaching impacts to this day.

Tickets for NCPA's Production of Music Drama - The Beautiful Blue Danube are Available now!