GOLDEN LOTUS BALLET: EASTERN MADAME BOVARY AND HER UNFORTUNATE LOVE
Commissioned by the 39th Hong Kong Arts Festival, adapted from the 17th century Chinese erotic novel Jin Ping Mei, Ballet Golden Lotus returns from three-year prohibition throughout Mainland China after its great success in Hong Kong. In September 2017, CCCDA will proudly present this phenomenal theatrical ballet production to Canadian audience in several major cities.
About
Labeled by many as an infamous tale of sexual desires, the fascinating classic Chinese novel, Jin Ping Mei, made another mark in history with its world premiere Ballet Golden Lotus debut in Hong Kong. Now it is touring Canada.
With beautiful costumes and sets, rich traditional and contemporary music, and tight choreography, Ballet Golden Lotus tells the story of a 1500s Chinese “Madame Bovary” – Beauty Golden Lotus whose unfortunate love, with the tiger slayer Wu Sung, the high dignitary Xi Men Qin, and her humble peddler husband Wu Da, led her to a bloody desperate ending. Told in four acts, "Prelude," "Wu Sung," "Xi Men," and “Lian,” the dance drama's structure reflects the characters’ struggles in expressive passages of dance and music, through a wonderful combination of timelessness and a great deal of mystery, intrigue and the excitement of it being set in a time we didn't live in.
Adapting the most famous Chinese ancient erotica and presenting it to people from a prudish and sexually repressive culture, as the production was about to tour China after its great success in Hong Kong, it became the focus of fiery debate in the media - resulting in its prohibition throughout the country because of its controversial content. Tamed some scenes in order to pass muster, Golden Lotus was finally being staged on the mainland China, but three years after its debut in Hong Kong.
Golden Lotus, getting to the heart of its title character in an efficient 90 minutes, is a great and novel experience for theatre lover.
Chief Creators:
Director and choreographer:
Wang Yuanyuan, Choreographer of Ballet Raise the Red Lantern
Resident choreographer for the National Ballet of China, Guest choreographer for the New York City Choreographic Institute, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Royal Danish Ballet and Shanghai Ballet.
Set and Costume:
Timmy Yip, Oscar winning costume designer of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Music Composer:
Du Wei, with major works including Niao Qing Si • The Interruption of a Dream for two Chinese Instruments and Orchestra, The Last Gold of Expired Stars for Orchestra, Exotic Perfume for Voice and String Orchestra, Nightmare in the Red Chamber for Voice, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet, Tinge for Voice and three Chinese Instruments, The Colour of Love and Golden Lotus for Contemporary Dance.
Music Supervisor:
Chen Qigang, Paris-based composer, Composer of 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony
Performing troupe:
Beijing Dance Theater
Touring Cities
Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal
Ticket Information:
$285, $235, $185, $145, $105, $85, $65
Website:
www.goldenlotusballet.com
About
Labeled by many as an infamous tale of sexual desires, the fascinating classic Chinese novel, Jin Ping Mei, made another mark in history with its world premiere Ballet Golden Lotus debut in Hong Kong. Now it is touring Canada.
With beautiful costumes and sets, rich traditional and contemporary music, and tight choreography, Ballet Golden Lotus tells the story of a 1500s Chinese “Madame Bovary” – Beauty Golden Lotus whose unfortunate love, with the tiger slayer Wu Sung, the high dignitary Xi Men Qin, and her humble peddler husband Wu Da, led her to a bloody desperate ending. Told in four acts, "Prelude," "Wu Sung," "Xi Men," and “Lian,” the dance drama's structure reflects the characters’ struggles in expressive passages of dance and music, through a wonderful combination of timelessness and a great deal of mystery, intrigue and the excitement of it being set in a time we didn't live in.
Adapting the most famous Chinese ancient erotica and presenting it to people from a prudish and sexually repressive culture, as the production was about to tour China after its great success in Hong Kong, it became the focus of fiery debate in the media - resulting in its prohibition throughout the country because of its controversial content. Tamed some scenes in order to pass muster, Golden Lotus was finally being staged on the mainland China, but three years after its debut in Hong Kong.
Golden Lotus, getting to the heart of its title character in an efficient 90 minutes, is a great and novel experience for theatre lover.
Chief Creators:
Director and choreographer:
Wang Yuanyuan, Choreographer of Ballet Raise the Red Lantern
Resident choreographer for the National Ballet of China, Guest choreographer for the New York City Choreographic Institute, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Royal Danish Ballet and Shanghai Ballet.
Set and Costume:
Timmy Yip, Oscar winning costume designer of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Music Composer:
Du Wei, with major works including Niao Qing Si • The Interruption of a Dream for two Chinese Instruments and Orchestra, The Last Gold of Expired Stars for Orchestra, Exotic Perfume for Voice and String Orchestra, Nightmare in the Red Chamber for Voice, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet, Tinge for Voice and three Chinese Instruments, The Colour of Love and Golden Lotus for Contemporary Dance.
Music Supervisor:
Chen Qigang, Paris-based composer, Composer of 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony
Performing troupe:
Beijing Dance Theater
Touring Cities
Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal
Ticket Information:
$285, $235, $185, $145, $105, $85, $65
Website:
www.goldenlotusballet.com
