Folk opera celebrates 90th anniversary of PLA's establishment

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By CGTN's Shen Li, Wen Liang

"Jinsha River", an opera adapted from a novel of the same name, tells the story of the Red Army's Long March in Tibet in 1935. It premiered Friday as the country marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

From climbing snow-capped mountains to trudging through marshlands, audiences get a sense of the hardship the Red Army soldiers had to endure and the touching bond they had with the Tibetan people.

Opera "Jinsha River" at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, capital of China. /CGTN Photo

Composer Lei Lei and the director of the opera, Liao Xianghong went to Yunnan Province to collect folk songs during the creation of the opera.

"When you actually go to the snowy mountains that the Red Army climbed, you are amazed by how the Red Army soldiers achieved this. It really is a seemingly impossible task. And we feel obliged to tell their stories to a wider audience and pass on the Long March legacy," Liao said, adding that she was deeply touched by the soldiers' demonstration of perseverance throughout the March.

Opera "Jinsha River" at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, capital of China. /CGTN Photo

Jinsha River is a novel written by Chen Jing based on his personal experience. There are four other adaptations of the story – a 1963 film, a comic series, a Shaoxing Opera and a Pingju Opera.

Staying true to the original novel, this opera version infused with traditional ethnic music, folk songs and Kunqu Opera, represents the aspirations and hopes that Chinese people have for long cherished peace.

As a fitting celebration for the 90th birthday of the PLA, the opera runs at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, capital of China until August 2.