Based on the national treasures and cultural relics as clues, more than 30 kinds of cranes were danced on stage and the musical “Love of Cranes” premiered
International Online News: From July 8th to 10th, the original fantasy musical “Love of Cranes” premiered at the Taihu Theater of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. The play is a musical that integrates mythological stories with the history and culture of the Liao Dynasty. Li Gang, the dean of Beijing Modern Music Research Institute, plays the role of screenwriter, lyricist, composer and producer. The play took three years to create. Taking the national treasure “Octagonal Bronze Mirror” as the clue of the play, it tells a love-hate entanglement between the two races of man and crane, interspersed with legendary stories about love, loyalty, power and bravery. .
Photo courtesy of the stills of the performance of “Love of Cranes”
“Love of Cranes” is based on the important “Banbo” culture in the history of Khitan, and takes the national treasure “Octagonal Bronze Mirror” as a dramatic clue. “culture. Director Li Gang said that “Love of Cranes” is a cultural root-seeking work created by him, and an affectionate hymn dedicated to his hometown. “The history of Beijing’s thousand-year-old capital can be traced back to the Liao Dynasty. It has ruins of the Liao Dynasty including the Xiao Taihou River and Guang’anmen Gate. My hometown, Baicheng, Jilin, is called ‘He Township’, which can be traced back to the Liao Dynasty as early as the Liao Dynasty. To build a bridge between Beijing and my hometown, I aimed at the Khitan culture of Daliao, and the love story between the king of the Liao Dynasty and the crane came into being.”
Photo courtesy of the stills of the performance of “Love of Cranes”
Talking about why he chose the art form of musicals, Li Gang said, “Different from the traditional art form of opera, musicals use popular music as an artistic language to communicate with the audience and are more inclined to entertainment for the masses.” It is reported that a total of 24 songs were written in the whole play. , the music style is not only elegant, delicate and gorgeous, but also rough, vigorous and simple, with complex melody and rich rhythm changes.
Photo courtesy of the stills of the performance of “Love of Cranes”
In the stage design, the creative team inspected the Khitan culture and processed the important elements in its cultural symbols. “We chose the octagonal bronze mirror, an important cultural relic representing Khitan culture, as the visual fulcrum of the stage beauty, forming the visual center image of the Khitan palace in the play.” Li Gang introduced that the elements of crane feathers will be used as an important element in the grand scene of the Wetland, and the horns of reindeer The elements are used to show the sacrificial scenes, creating a unique scenery of the grasslands and wilderness.
Photo courtesy of the stills of the performance of “Love of Cranes”
It is worth mentioning that the cranes with different poses and expressions have become a highlight of the play. White cranes, gray cranes, red-crowned cranes… In the prologue and epilogue, more than 30 kinds of cranes danced together on the stage, with eye-catching shapes and full of fantasy. “These cranes travel back and forth in the gorgeous palaces of Daliao and participate in human activities. They are very suitable for parents and children to watch.” Li Gang said that he also wanted to spread the word “to treat all living beings with a benevolent heart that coexists with all things”. ecological culture.
Photo courtesy of the stills of the performance of “Love of Cranes”
The performance left a deep impression on many audiences: “The idea of this drama is very good! On the one hand, it advocates the protection of nature, and on the other hand, it has very distinct regional characteristics. It uses the form of such a musical to preach and promote our China. The story of the nation is very worthy of recognition!” “It’s great! It’s shocking after reading it! Songs, characters, performances, costumes, props, and stage beauty are particularly memorable.”
Photo courtesy of the stills of the performance of “Love of Cranes”
As early as when the Taihu Theater was just completed, director Li Gang appeared with his work “The Love of the Canal in Heaven and Earth”. This time, as the first play after the theater’s resumption, Li Gang was very emotional. “The National Centre for the Performing Arts Taihu Theatre and the National Centre for the Performing Arts Opera House are drawn from the same drawing. They have the most professional equipment and theatre conditions, and are one of the top theatres in the country, which can bring great enjoyment to the performers and the audience. He also revealed that the construction of the Beiyin Grand Theater in the sub-center of Beijing is about to start. After completion, it will create a cultural feast in the sub-center of the city together with the Taihu Theater and the “Cultural Granary” sub-center theater.