The concert version of NCPA commission Visitors on the Snow Mountain was streamed via the NCPA Classical Music Channel and several online platforms on August 22nd, 2020, featuring conductor ZHANG Guoyong and NCPA resident singers. Through the performance of the China NCPA Chorus and Orchestra, “Ode to the Snow Mountain” reverberated around the Concert Hall. As of 22nd, the concert has recorded more than 20 million views.
The concert version of NCPA commission
Visitors on the Snow Mountain was streamed
Photo by NIU Xiaobei
In 2014, the NCPA first put the screen classic onto the opera stage. Composed by LEI Lei, written by YI Ming and directed by CHEN Xinyi, the opera Visitors on the Snow Mountain presents grand symphony music, an intriguing plot and classic melodies plus a distinctive ethnic style and unique stage effects. Prior to the performance, hostess JIANG Xiaohan, composer LEI Lei, conductor ZHANG Guoyong and NCPA resident singers ZHOU Xiaolin and WANG Hexiang shared their stories about Snow Mountain.
China NCPA Orchestra took the audience to the Pamirs with familiar melodies under the baton of ZHANG Guoyong
Photo by NIU Xiaobei
The chorus named Snow Mountain Prelude set the background of the whole opera. Amid the stirring singing of NCPA resident singers ZHOU Xiaolin, ZHANG Xin, WANG Chong, WANG Hexiang, KOU Jing, GUAN Zhijing and JIN Zhengjian, the classic screen images such as the real and pseudo Grandam, Amir, Yang Paizhang and Navruz, reappeared on stage. Led by conductor ZHANG Guoyong, the China NCPA Orchestra took the audience to the Pamirs with familiar melodies. At the end of the concert, the China NCPA Chorus interpreted the Warrior Song, demonstrating the great strength of national unity and the ties between ethic groups, as well as military-civilian relations.
Classic screen images such as the real and pseudo Grandam, Amir, Yang Paizhang and Navruz, reappeared on stage
Photo by NIU Xiaobei
The opera concert has won rave reviews from the audience and industry experts. “As an opera under the same name of a famous film, Visitors on the Snow mountain appeals to the audience in itself. LEI Zhenbang and LEI Lei composed for the film and opera respectively as father and daughter. The natural infusion of the movie songs enabled the opera version to retain the artistic appeal of the film as another form of performance,” said DUAN Zhaoxu, Deputy Professor of Beijing Normal University. CHEN Zhiyin, Senior Editor and Council Member of the Music Critics Society under the Chinese Musicians' Association, commented, “Kara and Grandam put on a natural and impressive rival show, and their friendship begins and ends with clear logic. The story culminates in the reunion of Grandam and Amir, which transcends the height of the film’s episodes and is very operatic.”