Artistic Director: Mehdi Hosseini
PERFORMERS:
Opera artists and Russian-Chinese Symphony Orchestra
Сonductors: Victoria Dobrovolskaya (Russia) & Tongzho Zheng (China)
PROGRAMME:
Chamber opera Rising From the Dead
Russian Premiere of the Chinese chamber opera "Rising From the Dead" by composer Deqing Wen, adapted from writer Lu Xun's work “Resurrection of the Skeleton”, revives a Chinese classic on the cycle of life and tells the story of the philosopher Zhuangzi, who is invited to visit the ruler of Chu State and has been on the road for many days.
Chamber opera production resurrects a Chinese classic on the cycle of life by renowned writer Lu Xun, known for his versatility as a short story writer, essayist, literary critic and editor.
Based on the rewritings of ancient myths Gushi Xinbian, or Old Tales Retold, it tells the story of the philosopher Zhuangzi of the Warring States period (475-221 BC), who is invited to visit the ruler of Chu State and has been on the road for many days. On his way he discovers a skull, and decides to bring it back to life. When he calls upon the Master of Fate, ghosts warn him of the consequences, but Zhuangzi insists. The resurrected skeleton comes back to life as a naked peasant, who is lost and confused by the questions asked by Zhuangzi, such as where he came from and which year he lived in. All the peasant wants is clothes to cover his nakedness and money to return home.
The time and space of the original work has been extended into the modern era in the opera, with the second act, which is titled “Return as a Skeleton”, added to the original plot. While Zhuangzi's dream of resurrecting the skeleton is "fulfilled" in Lu Xun's version, in this opera the resurrected peasant becomes a skeleton again.
About festival
From the 23 May to the 8 June, 2024 the XI St Petersburg International New Music Festival will be held by St Petersburg Contemporary Music Center ‘reMusik.org’. This annual major forum of contemporary music in Russia will take place with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the local Government of St Petersburg under the direction of the artistic director and composer Mehdi Hosseini.
The two-week festival will present more than 60 different events to the public, with concerts taking place at some of St Petersburg’s finest music venues, such as the Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall, the Great Hall of the St Petersburg State Philharmonia, the New Stage of Alexandrinsky Theatre, and other venues in the city.
| user_name | | Exit |
