"The Barber of Seville" produced by the Royal Opera House of the United Kingdom, "Madame Butterfly" produced by the Royal Opera House in Madrid, "Macbeth" and "Tai yis" produced by the Metropolitan Opera house in the United States, "The Golden Sands Riverside" and "Famous Singers of Nuremberg" produced by the National Centre for the Performing Arts of China, "Farewell to the King" jointly produced by Shanghai Radio and Television Station and Shanghai Peking Opera House... 10 well-known art institutions at home and abroad delivered 13 classic opera films to the doorstep of Shanghai audiences. From November 25th to December 2nd, during the "2020 National Centre for the Performing Arts International Opera and Film Festival", these wonderful masterpieces will be screened in turn at Shanghai Paragon Cinema and Shanghai Parmeway Cinema.
This year's film festival is star-studded, conductor Antonio Papano, Lu Jia, singers Rio Nucci, Joyce Didonato, Anna Nerebeko, Yan Weiwen, Lei Jia, Peking Opera performance artist Shang Changrong, etc. will all appear on the big screen, offering the most charming audio-visual feast.
Gathering the world's top theaters, major art institutions move out of the "bottom of the box baby"
"This year's film festival will be screened in more than 30 theaters in 8 cities across the country." Wang Cheng, vice president of the National Centre for the Performing Arts of China, revealed that in September this year, the National Centre for the Performing Arts initiated the establishment of the World Theatre Alliance, and the film festival received positive response and support from the member institutions of the Alliance, "once again demonstrating the concept of the world theater uniting as one, overcoming difficulties together, and jointly building a 'world theater community of destiny' since the epidemic." "The National Centre for the Performing Arts launched its opera film production program as early as 2013, and by the end of 2019, 29 opera films had been filmed; the Metropolitan Opera house and the Royal Opera House of the United Kingdom participated in the exhibition, which were also the world's leading opera film productions.
For this film festival, major art institutions have moved out of the "bottom of the pressure box baby". The seoul art hall in South Korea brought Mozart's classic "The Magic Flute" for the first time; the National Centre for the Performing Arts' elaborate nearly 5 hours of full-page "The Famous Singer of Nuremberg", which is a rare panoramic display of the Wagnersy opera; the 3D stage art film "The White Haired Girl" starring the China Opera and Dance Theater to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the premiere of this classic work; the Royal Opera House in Madrid, Spain, which was built in 1818 and brought the unique "Madame Butterfly". "This opera and film exhibition brings together high-level fine works produced by different styles and different art institutions and displays them to audiences across the country, which is of extraordinary significance and is a grand event for artistic enjoyment." Lu Jia, music and artistic director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, hopes to see more and more young audiences in the film festival.
"Universal perspective" makes up for the limitations of live performances, and high-tech expands the reverie space
How is going to the cinema to see an opera different from the theater experience? According to experts, the innate advantage of opera films is the "universal perspective", in addition to presenting the panoramic picture of the stage performance, the film can also partially enlarge the details such as the actor's body movements and facial expressions through close-up shots, making up for the limitations of the perspective of live viewing.
In fact, in order to achieve a high-fidelity effect close to "lossless", the professional photography team must carefully arrange the shooting camera position and sound acquisition system, and the cast and crew must repeatedly run in to ensure a perfect stage presentation, and after clever editing and technical processing in the later stage, in order to maximize the restoration of the audiovisual effect of the performance site. 3D, 4K and even 8K technologies are gradually integrated, opening up new avenues for opera filmmaking. In the pioneering exploration, the surrealist film vocabulary adds more reverie space to the traditional stage, such as the use of peripheral lens elements to enrich the aria and the large section of the narrative tone, making it full of romantic poetry; such as the use of close-up shots to process the inconspicuous props on the stage into important film details, and the combination of virtual and real to promote the laying out of the opera story.
In terms of the use of high and new technologies in opera films, China has the advantage of being "one step ahead". This international opera and film exhibition not only builds a platform for exchanges and cooperation between major art institutions, but also becomes a new brand for opera art communication and a new business card for Chinese culture to "go global". The "Shanghai-produced" 3D Peking Opera film "Bawang Bijie" participated in this year's exhibition has won the Best Award for Chinese Stereoscopic Film Feature Film, the "Best 3D Musical Feature Film of the Year Award" of the International Stereoscopic Advanced Imaging Association of the United States, the "Creative Art Award" of the Lumiere Award, and the Best Opera Film of the Golden Rooster Award. "Trying first and daring to break through and innovate is the cultural character and spirit that Shanghai should have." Director Teng Junjie believes that "Farewell to the King" uses 3D real shooting and advanced panoramic sound technology throughout the process, exploring a way to integrate new film technologies and traditional theater performance arts. Good works of art should be combined with the latest scientific and technological means.
"Jinsha Riverside"
Producer: National Centre for the Performing Arts of China
"Jinsha Riverside" is an original national opera launched by the National Centre for the Performing Arts to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and is another exploration of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in the field of national opera. This drama is adapted from the novel of the same name published and distributed in 1959, "On the Banks of the Jinsha River", the original author Chen Jing was a witness to the Long March that year, and one of the military writers who wrote about the Long March. "Jinsha Riverside" tells a touching story of the Red Army's Long March, shows the profound military and civilian fish and water conditions of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the people of the Tibetan areas on the banks of the Jinsha River, and with profound and delicate brushstrokes, creates unforgettable artistic images such as Dolma and Jin Ming, and becomes the collective memory of generations of readers and audiences.
Shoko the Camel
Coachman Shoko saved money for three years to buy a new car, dreaming of one day driving a car dealership of her own. Unfortunately, he caught up with the soldiers, and the newly purchased car was snatched away by the soldiers. Frustrated, he returned to Liu Siye's car shop and tried to regroup, but he failed to resist the seduction of Liu Siye's daughter Tiger Girl, and he was confused and messed with Tiger Girl, and Xiangzi was forced to marry Tiger Girl and left the car shop with Tiger Girl. He bought a car with Tiger Girl's money, but it wasn't long before he had to sell it again in order to bury tiger girl who had died in childbirth. Subsequently, his beloved woman, Xiaofuzi, hanged herself unable to bear the humiliation of life, completely shattering Shoko's dreams. Since then, he has lived day by day, and an honest and simple peasant youth has thus completed a short life from being diligent and unwilling to fail to being willing to degenerate.
"Rigoletto"
In the sixteenth-century Italian city of Mantua, the protagonist Rigoletto was an ugly hunchback and worked as a courtier in the court of the Duke of Mantua. The Duke was young and beautiful, and his pleasure in playing with women caused resentment among the courtiers. Rigoletto, on the other hand, taunted the misfortune of the courtiers' wives and daughters, offended many people, and eventually led to the loss of their daughters. His beloved daughter Gilda is pure and beautiful, and the Duke disguises himself as a poor student to pursue her secretly, cheating her love. Later, Rigoletto lured the Duke into staying overnight at the Inn and hired Assassins to kill him. Before dawn, it is found that the victim is a woman dressed as a man, and Gilda is already dying. It turned out that the young girl who learned of the assassination plan had a deep affection for the duke and was willing to die for the duke for love.
"The Famous Singers of Nuremberg" on and off
The provincial knight Walter von Stolchin fell in love with Ava Pogner, the daughter of the goldsmith Bogner, but Fayt Pogna had already agreed to marry his daughter Ava Pogner to the singer who won the upcoming singing competition, so Stolchin decided to participate in the competition. Due to his unfamiliarity with the singing essentials and the rules of the game, as well as the fact that the clerk Beckmeser, who wanted to marry back Ava Pogna, obstructed the scoring, Stoltering was eliminated in the preliminaries. But the shoemaker Sachs discovered in Stolchin a power of unbridled genius, and the unfettered way of singing made him have a hunch that the time was coming for a breakthrough from the conventional pedantic art to a higher ideal...
The White-Haired Girl 3D
Producer: Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China
Sharecropper Yang Bailao and his daughter Xi'er are dependent on each other for their lives, and Xi'er and Dachun, a young farmer in the same village, fall in love. Yang Bailao was forced by his life to borrow a usurious loan from the bully landlord Huang Shiren, and then went out to escape the debt. On the night of Chinese New Year's Eve Yang Bailao secretly went home. After hearing the news, Huang Shiren forced Yang Bailao to sell the female top debt, and Yang Bailao committed suicide by drinking brine used to make tofu. Xi'er was snatched into the Huang family, raped by Huang Shiren, and fled into the mountains, with all her hair white. Two years later, Dachun returned to his hometown with the Eighth Route Army, found Xi'er in a cave, and avenged her grievances. At the end, the villagers and Xi'er meet together to denounce the Huang family's crimes and celebrate the re-emergence of the poor.
"Farewell to the King" 3D Peking Opera movie
Producer: Shanghai Radio and Television Station, Shanghai Peking Opera House
The Qin Dynasty fell, and chu and Han competed for dominance. Liu Bang, the king of Han, worshiped Han Xin as a general and attacked Chu. Xiang Yu, the overlord of Western Chu, was self-conscious, credulously trusted the deceitful Han general Li Zuoche, and rushed to march on his own. Princess Yu Ji and the ministers were fruitless in their advice, so they had to go with the car. In the decisive battle of Jiuli Mountain, Xiang Yu encountered an ambush on ten sides and was trapped under the siege. The Chu army was again caught in Zhang Liang's embattled tactics and scattered one after another. Seeing that the general trend had gone, Yu Ji was deeply afraid of implicating the overlord and committed suicide in tears. Xiang Yu felt that he had no face to see Jiangdong's father and elder again, and he also killed himself with a horizontal sword. The hero of the world, so far the soul of the Wujiang River. The song of sorrow is generous, and it will be sung for thousands of years!
Macbeth
Producer: Metropolitan Opera
General Macbeth, the cousin of King Duncan of Scotland, encounters a witch on his way back from a triumphant return to fight off invaders for the king. The witch prophesied that Macbeth would become Lord of Court and ascend to the throne in the future, but said that he had no heirs to inherit the throne, but that the descendants of his colleague General Bancor would be kings. When the letter was about to be doubted, the king decreed that Macbeth be the lord of Court, much to Macbeth's surprise at the fulfillment of the witch's prophecy. Macbeth, instigated by his wife, killed King Duncan, usurped the throne, and killed Banko and the wife and children of the nobleman Macduff to prevent others from seizing the throne. Although the goal was achieved, fear and suspicion caused Macbeth to hallucinate frequently, and Lady Macbeth began to live in terror, often sleepwalking, and died soon after. In the face of rebellion, Macbeth was eventually defeated and killed. Duncan's son Malcolm was proclaimed the new king.
Tai yisi
Producer: Metropolitan Opera
The monk ventures into the city to bring out Tai yis, a famous prostitute who is addicted to the life of a drunken gold fan, and bitterly advises her to leave the circle of red and green social circles. Tais was inspired by the monks, broke away from the worldly life of indulgence and pleasure, converted to religion, and entered the monastery as a nun. But the monk was impressed by the youthful beauty of Taisi and fell in love with Taisi. At this time, Taisi gained peace in the monastery, but also completely lost the joy of the world, and finally she left the world with a complicated mood. As she was dying of her illness, the monk fell at the feet of love. The monk became a sinner, but the sinner's soul rose to heaven.
The Barber of Seville
Producer: Royal Opera House
Adapted from the satirical comedy of the same name by French writer Beaumacher, The Barber of Seville is a classic two-act comedy opera by Rossini. In the 17th century, in Seville, Spain, the young Count Alma Viva fell in love with the rich and beautiful maiden Rosina. But Bartoló, Rosina's guardian and greedy doctor, is also playing Rosina's idea. In desperation, the count had to turn to figaro, the nosy barber in the city. Despite Bartolo's obstruction and the help of the music teacher Basilio, he was unable to gain favors under Figaro. After a series of hilarious farces, Count Alma viva and Rosina break through the obstacles and finally form a wonderful relationship.
Madame Butterfly
Producer: Real Opera De Madrid, Spain
The story takes place in the harbor of Nagasaki in Japan at the end of the 19th century. Qiao Qiao Sang (Madame Butterfly) is a naïve, pure, and lively Japanese girl who abandons tradition and faith for love and marries Captain Pinkerton of the United States Navy. Shortly after the marriage, Pinkleton returned to the United States and was never heard from. But Qiao Qiao Sang was convinced that he would return, and looked at the port day by day, looking forward to her husband's return. During pinkleton's absence, Chochosan gave birth to their child. Three years later, Pinkleton returned to Japan with his American wife and took him and Qiaoqiaosang's son with him. The beautiful illusion has become a bubble, and in grief, Qiaoqiao Sang pulls out the short sword left by his father and kills himself in the room, ending his romantic and tragic life.
Aida
Producer: Royal Opera House of Turin, Italy
In the era of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, the war between ancient Egypt and Ethiopia broke out again, and the Egyptian warlord Radames set out to face the Ethiopian king Amonaslo. The Egyptian princess Annaris fell in love with Radames, and Radames fell in love with her slave girl, Aida. Anaris is suspicious of the identity of the slave girl Aida, who is the daughter of the King of Ethiopia. Radames triumphed, and Aida found her father among the prisoners of war. Except for Aida's father and daughter, the king of Egypt released all prisoners of war and announced that Anaris would be rationed to Radames. Aida decides to meet with Radames for the last time, before which Amonaslo advises her daughter to obtain secrets. After Radames leaked the military plane, Amonaslo suddenly appeared and revealed his identity, but was hit by the high priest while fleeing. Radames was eventually sentenced to be buried alive, and Aida was reluctant to live and was determined to be with Radames. A pair of lovers embraced, and the soul flew to heaven.
Pavarotti A Voice for Love
Producer: Hanwei Films
On the tenth anniversary of the death of world-famous tenor Rucciano Pavarotti, an officially licensed documentary was announced, directed by Hollywood director Ron Howard (director of "A Beautiful Mind"). The documentary took two years to complete, and during the filming process, the director conducted a front-of-stage and behind-the-scenes search of the Pavarotti family archives, home videos, and a large number of concerts through a collaboration with Deca Records, and the audience will see Pavarotti's legendary experience: from his humble beginnings in northern Italy to his brilliant career as a global superstar. In addition, the film invited interviews with many celebrities and artists who had worked with him, including José Carreras, one of the "Three Highs".
Author: Xuanjing
Image source: National Centre for the Performing Arts Official
Editor: Zhang Zhenxi