From January 16^th to 19^th, the NCPA Opera Commission Minning Town will be revived at the NCPA Opera House. As the Chinese New Year approaches, it will bring Chinese audience a nostalgia expressed in the dialect and melodies of Northwest China that echo between the mountains and sea.

Back in the 1990s, the people in Xihaigu of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were shackled by poverty. In response to the call of Chinese national policies and with counterpart assistance from Fujian Province, they departed from their hometown and set out on a migration journey to the Gobi Desert. Starting from nothing and struggling to the characteristic agriculture established by their hard work and tenacious will, they had gradually overcome numerous difficulties, transforming Minning Town from a “dry desert” into a “golden beach”. The story of Minning Town is a inspiring epic depicting poverty alleviation. The Chinese TV series of the same name touched the hearts of hundreds of millions of viewers with its sharp authenticity. Now, the opera Minning Town presents a more comprehensive and stunning artistic expression, leading the audience into that familiar yet novel rural world. When it comes to the artistic features, its uniqueness in music and dialogue has to be mentioned.

The incorporation of ethnic and folk music in this opera is a living fossil of regional culture and one of the highlights of the opera Minning Town. The renowned composer MENG Weidong draws rich nourishment from the high-pitched mountain songs nurtured by the Yellow River in Northwest China – Ningxia “Hua’er”, and meticulously integrates the essence of ethnic music into the opera. In the resounding, long withdrawing, and hearty main tone, he integrates contemporary consciousness to create a music language that is both traditional and modern, showcasing the innermost feelings of different characters in various scenarios. This not only enhances the artistic quality of the opera but also enriches the aesthetic experience of the audience. In this melody, there is both the desolate grandeur of the Northwest desert and the delicacy and tension of opera art.

 

Another highlight of the NCPA opera commission Minning Town is its usage of the Northwest dialect by actors. The dialect carries a heavy cultural memory as a cultural symbol, through which we can feel the past years and experience our ancestors’ tenacious spirit amid the harsh environment. This artistic process presents the boldness, simplicity, and diligence in the blood of the Northwest people, making the characters appear more vivid, and endowing the opera with a strong rural flavour and distinct regional characteristics.

Those accents, carrying the temperature and flavour of the loess land, offer special vitality to the characters and make every scene and conversation full of authenticity and appeal. Such artistic elevation not only avoids making the work rustic but makes it more fragrant just like aged wine, brimming with the charm of the times. No matter how eras change, the tenacity and warmth rooted deep in the land have always been the driving force for people to move forward.

 

From January 16^th to 19^th, under Conductor LÜ Jia’s baton, the NCPA Orchestra will work with original cast including WANG Hongwei, MA Xiaoming, GONG Shuang, XU Jingjing, JIN Zhengjian, CHEN Dashuai, LIANG Yüfeng, MA Teng, CHEN Yingzhu, LIU Shan, GUAN Zhijing, etc., to deliver this wonderful round of performances.