On December 22
nd, the NCPA children’s opera commission
A Story About Growing Up will premiere at the NCPA Open Day for the 11
th anniversary of the NCPA. The opera is adapted from a fairy tale of the same title written by children’s literary translator and writer REN Rongrong. Opera
A Story About Growing Up will remind the audience about the classic fairy tale and to feel the endless charms of opera art. On December 12
th, Vice President of the NCPA ZHAO Tiechun attended a press conference with the production team and lead performers. The press conference unveiled many highlights of this opera.
Vice President of the NCPA ZHAO Tiechun attended a press conference with the production team and lead performers.
The fairy tale
A Story About Growing Up, written by REN Rongrong in 1956, tells a tale about two boys. One is “the Fool”, a careless boy, and “the Unhappy Boy”, who is wilful and bad-tempered. They have a magic time travel and finally understand that a foible may cause a serious evil consequence. For more than half a century, the fairy tale has been a classic in many readers’ unforgettable memories in their childhood.
The performers presented parts of the hightlights of the opera.
Since 2015, the NCPA has rolled out three children’s operas, including
The Fisherman and the Goldfish,
Effendi and
Snow White, to popularize the opera art and enhance children’s aesthetic development.
A Story About Growing Up is the fourth children’s opera commission by the NCPA, and also the first time to present “the Fool” and “the Happy Boy”, two fairytale characters familiar to the Chinese audience, on the opera stage after over two years of elaborate planning. At the conference, ZHAO Tiechun said, “The NCPA chooses to present this classic on the opera stage in order to lead more children into the world of the opera art and spread positive values through the fable story to expand the influence of aesthetic education, so that more children can feel, understand and create beauty.”
The performers presented parts of the hightlights of the opera.
The NCPA gathers a young production team for the opera, so they can think more from a children’s perspective. Composer ZHANG Yixin uses typical Chinese music elements to the audience, including the percussion music from traditional Peking Opera and the pitch intervals and melodies of the classic Chinese children’s song Looking for Friends. Ping Opera artist HAN Jianguang, conductor LAI Jiajing, who served as the librettist and conductor of NCPA children’s opera commission Effendi respectively, have also joined A Story About Growing Up. Director WANG Bingran stays childish by trying to make the stage a magical space. The inconstant stage setting, sci-fi image design and fashionable cartoon costume designs will give the audience a compelling visual impact.
The opera will be performed by a group of A-list singers, including WANG Haitao, GENG Zheshi, LIANG Yufeng and GUO Jianchao. Besides, the members of the NCPA Chorus will play roles on stage to solidify dramatic conflicts among characters.
Photos by GAO Shang
Repertoire
Films
Videos
Podcast
China NCPA Orchestra
China NCPA Chorus
NCPA Resident Singers
NCPA Drama Ensemble
Buildings
Exhibitions
Opening Hours
Guided Tours
Services
Getting Here
Western Cuisine
NCPA Café
Arts Gifts
