Chinese Version of “The Marriage of Figaro” Opera to Premiere in May
The Chinese version of Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro” is set to premiere on May 10, produced by the Zheng Xiaoying Opera Art Center. The 95-year-old first female conductor in New China, Zheng Xiaoying, shared details about the production in a recent interview.
Translated by Zhang Chengmo, with songs by Jiang Ying and music by Wu Lingfen and Zheng Xiaoying, the opera promises a modern stage filled with oil painting colors. The artistic director for the performance is Professor Zheng Xiaoying, with renowned conductor Wu Lingfen leading the orchestra.
The opera features original members of the first opera department of the Central Conservatory of Music who premiered the opera in China back in 1983. The cast, including Liu Keqing, Deng Guiping, Zhang Yalun, and Wu Xiaolu, will be accompanied by the Xiamen Opera Philharmonic Chorus and the Fuzhou Straits Symphony Orchestra.
Zheng Xiaoying emphasized the importance of promoting ‘singing in foreign operas’ to preserve the tradition of performing Western classic operas in the Chinese mother tongue. The production of “The Marriage of Figaro” is part of the center’s efforts to promote Chinese versions of Western classic operas, following successful adaptations like “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”.
Opera enthusiasts can expect a grand production that showcases the creative wisdom of mankind, with a focus on storytelling through music and clever layouts. The Zheng Xiaoying Opera Art Center’s commitment to providing a ‘guided tour’ before performances ensures that audiences have a deeper understanding of the ideological and artistic nature of the operas.
With preparations underway for the premiere next month, opera lovers are eagerly anticipating the classic flashback to the Chinese version of “The Marriage of Figaro” from 1983. This production marks another milestone in the center’s mission to innovate and present timeless operatic masterpieces to audiences.
Editor: Huang Lihong