Red Cliff (Peking opera)

Red Cliff (Chinese: 赤壁; pinyin: chìbì) is a Peking opera by the China NCPA which premiered at the first anniversary of the National Grand Theatre in 2008. The director was the choreographer and PLA lieutenant general Zhang Jigang, best known as deputy chief director of the Beijing Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies.[3] It was written by Cai Fuchao and composed by Zhu Shaoyu.[4]

Red Cliff
CompanyNCPA
GenreHistorical
Show typePeking opera
Date of premiereDecember 22, 2008 (2008-12-22)[1]
Final showNovember 1, 2017 (2017-11-01)[2]
Creative team
PlaywrightCai Fuchao
ComposerZhu Shaoyu
DirectorZhang Jigang

In China the opera appeared in three versions - for older singers, youth, and children - as part of the educational purpose of the project. The opera then toured Europe.[5]

Synopsis

edit

A dramatised account of the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 AD, the play is based on relevant chapters from the 14th century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong.[5]

Cast

edit
 
Li Shengsu and Yu Kuizhi in 2019.
Role Original Other[5]
Zhuge Liang Yu Kuizhi Zhang Jianfeng
Zhou Yu Li Hongtu
Xiao Qiao Li Shengsu Dou Xiaoxuan
Cao Cao Meng Guanglu Wang Yue
Lu Su Du Zhenjie
Sun Quan Chen Junjie
Zhang Zhao Zhu Qiang
Yu Fan Huang Baixue
Bu Zhi Huang Yanzhong
Xue Zong Zhang Kai
Sun Shangxiang Ding Guiling Zhang Shujing
Emperor Xian of Han Su Congfa
Huang Gai Qiu Jirong Meng Xianteng
Meixiang (Xiao Qiao's maid) Chen Zhangxia

References

edit
  1. ^ "Peking Opera's Red Cliff Broadcast in Times Square March 16". Playbill. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Peking opera Red Cliff to celebrate NCPA's 10th Anniversary". National Centre for the Performing Arts (China). 13 October 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  3. ^ Beijing Review - v52 p43 2009 "Modern opera techniques, especially in setting and stage design, enhance the theatrical effects of the performance, as was the case of Red Cliff, a big-budget blockbuster that is rare on Peking Opera stages. Red Cliff 'director Zhang Jigang, who was deputy chief director of the Beijing Olympic Games' opening and closing ceremonies, removed the traditional "one-table-and-two- chairs" setting for a more sophisticated stage design. He said that he ...
  4. ^ "NCPA New Historical Peking Opera: Red Cliff". National Centre for the Performing Arts (China). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Europe tour and programme and plot
edit