China Shanghai International Arts Festival opens

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The 20th China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF) is held from October 19 to November 22.

This year's art festival continues to insist on the purpose of "people's festival," to show the successful practice and significant achievements in the past 40 years of reform and opening up, to launch the Shanghai cultural brand, and to help Shanghai build the Asian performing arts capital.

As a platform for international cultural and art exchanges and exhibitions, the festival will bring together the world's top troupes and masterpieces, making it a "grand stage" for gathering classics, carrying forward national spirit and displaying cultural confidence.

Many original new works are premiered during the festival, which will inspire Shanghai's cultural innovation and creativity.

It is reported that the festival will have a total of 132 performances, including 45 plays, 25 of which are overseas projects and 20 domestic.

The opening work of the art festival is planned to be the original Chinese Symphony Concert Themed Myth, a large-scale musical work commissioned by the CSIAF. It is composed by Ye Xiaogang, chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association.

A poster for "Painted Skin" /CSIAF Photo

The festival, including the myth-themed symphonic concert, brings together some new works, especially in exploring new artistic patterns.

Take the novel form of opera "Painted Skin", which features not only poetic characteristics of Chinese culture but also stage tension and dramatic conflict. The opera "Painted Skin" is adapted from the story of the same name in Pu Songling's "Strange Stories from a Carefree Studio".

A poster for "Rite of Spring," a dance drama directed by eminent Chinese dancer Yang Liping /CSIAF Photo

"Rite of Spring" is a dance drama directed by eminent Chinese dancer Yang Liping. It is a brand new creation which is completely different from any previous version, integrates Yang's iconic dance elements and ethnic flavors into modern dance, showing her understanding of nature and life in traditional Chinese culture.

Also, there are many forms of work reflecting the innovation and charm of the art festival, including world master choreographer Akram Khan's "XENOS", which means "stranger", "Daughter from Dunhuang" by Shanghai Huju Opera Theater, and mid-length Pingtan virtuoso piece "Jiang Yuequan, a Biography."

A poster for Pingtan virtuoso piece "Jiang Yuequan, a Biography". /CSIAF Photo

Moreover, nearly 100 entries from five countries, including China, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Korea, were submitted to the popular "R.A.W.!" section of the festival.

In the end, six original works stood out, focusing on intangible cultural heritage and reflecting the artistic creativity and realistic thinking of contemporary young artists.

The festival coincides with the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up and the 20th anniversary of China Shanghai international art festival. More than 350 events of the festival will cover over four million people.

The only national comprehensive international art festival in China, CSIAF is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and organized by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

Since 1999, the festival has served as an important platform for China's cultural exchanges with other countries by adhering to the concept of "innovative development."

(Cover designed by Li Wenyi)