Experimental Peking opera "Faust" premieres in Germany
2017-05-16 15:33 GMT+87818km to Beijing
EditorAi Yan
Experimental Peking opera "Faust" was staged Monday evening in the western city
of Wiesbaden, starting its premiere tour in Germany.
Co-produced by China National Peking Opera Company and Italy's Emilia Romagna
Theater Foundation, the play was performed as part of the International May
Festival, a world-known traditional theater festival.
The story was based on a breakthrough adaptation of the Western masterpiece
"Faust," written by Johann Wolfgang Goethe more than 200 years ago. The play
combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.
Scene from Peking Opera "Faust". /CNS Photo
Since its debut in 2015, the opera has been staged over 70 times,triggering warm
responses from audience as it offers a creative blend of Western classic with
oriental culture as well as presents a perfect cooperation between Chinese
artists and performers from Italy and Germany.
"We have come to the homeland of 'Faust' to examine our three years' efforts,"
said Xu Mengke, co-director of the opera.
"It was a great performance during which I was touched by the actors' and
actresses' deep emotion," a German audience told Xinhua after the play, adding
that he could well understand the performers' body language although the Chinese
dialogue was difficult to catch.
File of experimental Peking opera "Faust" is staged at the Argentina Theater in Rome, Italy, March 12, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
The opera has been added to this year's German-Chinese cultural program, a
national event in Germany featuring the theme "China Today" to celebrate the
45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The play will be staged in other cities including Duisburg, Kassel and Saarlouis
till the end of May.