It is the sea, it is the torrent, it is the stars

Author: Zheng Na

As a famous composer in modern and modern China, Xian Xinghai left hundreds of militant and infectious musical works with amazing creativity in his short life. From the capital of Lingnan to the banks of the Seine River, from the Huangpu River to the Yan'an cave dwellings, Xian Xinghai inspires people with strong notes, resists the enemy and saves the country with shocking melodies, injects a strong spiritual impetus into national independence and people's liberation, and is worthy of the great title of "people's musician". On December 16th, the original contemporary dance drama "Xian Xinghai", jointly produced by the National Centre for the Performing Arts and Ningbo Performing Arts Group, premiered in Beijing, showing Xian Xinghai's bumpy and magnificent life in an all-round way, and vividly standing on the stage the heroic group portraits of Communist Party members who have forgotten their dedication and always maintained their original intentions.

The picture shows the stills of the dance drama "Xian Xinghai". Courtesy of the National Centre for the Performing Arts

In order to attract more young audiences to enter the theater to understand Xian Xinghai, the dance drama "Xian Xinghai" adopts a pioneering fashionable and infectious contemporary dance form to interpret Xian Xinghai's legendary life. This is both innovation and challenge. Chief director Xiao Xiangrong, screenwriter Xu Rui, composer Guo Sida and other creators chose to present xian xinghai's revolutionary story, emotional story, life story, creation story, etc., with an innovative "musical symphonic narrative" structure, highly imaged expression techniques, classical and modern melodies that are woven together, and modern styles that conform to the aesthetics of contemporary audiences, and look back on Xian Xinghai's life from the inner perspective of Xian Xinghai's life at the time of his death.

Xiao Xiangrong said: "The dance drama "Xian Xinghai" does not adopt a traditional linear narrative, but re-sorts out Xian Xinghai's nationality and cosmopolitanness, digs deep into his popularity, integrates the character's youthful passion and national mission into the play, and highly images to create a 'people's musician' with sublimated soul and flesh and blood, so that the fate of the characters has more current significance. ”

In the process of creation, screenwriter Xu Rui consulted a large number of historical materials, and strived to use warm and profound brushstrokes to lead the audience into Xian Xinghai's inner world. Xu Rui said: "This dance drama is not to tell the story of Xian Xinghai, but to show his inner spiritual strength. We use imagery to portray the characters through music, symphony and dance – 'The Sea' symbolizes his early process of persevering in his quest for learning in difficult situations; 'Torrent' represents his struggle for the Chinese nation and merges into the torrent of revolution; 'Homeland' tells his experience of traveling overseas due to war; 'Stars' means that his firm faith is as eternal as the sea of stars. ”

In order to present a high-quality stage performance, the crew conducted a closed rehearsal for nearly 4 months, striving for excellence and repeated polishing. On the night of the premiere, Wei Shenzhou, the actor of Xian Xinghai, vividly expressed the image of a "people's musician" with firm faith and single-mindedness to serve the country, capturing the hearts of a large number of audiences. After the performance, Wei Shenzhou said: "Xian Xinghai's will and spirit have influenced me, and I hope that the audience can have a deeper understanding of him through dance drama, not only stay in the "Yellow River Chorus", but also hope that everyone can remember these ancestors who have struggled for the country and the nation, cherish the present, and forge ahead. (Zheng Na)

Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition