Zhang's Red Lanterns to Be Raised Again

Zhang Yimou, a well-known film director, makes no bones about telling the truth. "I cannot dance and I never think of dancing myself," he said on Monday during a press conference.

However, he is trying his hand at ballet after having directed Puccini's opera "Turandot" in 1997.

A group of renowned artists from home and abroad have joined Zhang in creating a modern Chinese ballet drama "Raise High the Red Lantern," for the National Ballet of China (NBC) this year.

The artists include composer Chen Qigang and costume designer Jerome Kaplan from France, choreographer Wang Xinpeng from Germany, stage lighting manager Li Shusheng from Hong Kong and set designer Zeng Li from Beijing.

"Raise High the Red Lantern" is a story about Chinese women's misery in a traditional Chinese feudal household.

The film, with the same title, which was directed by Zhang Yimou, won the Silver Lion Award in the 48th International Venice Film Festival and was a nominee for Best Foreign Film in the 64th Oscar Awards.

"It is an entirely new exploration in ballet, with a number of well-known artists from different fields getting together to promote Chinese modern ballet," said Zhao Ruheng, president of the NBC.

The germ of the idea goes back to 1999, when Zeng Li, the set designer, was working on the NBC's "Nutcracker."

Zeng once talked with Zhao Ruheng about Zhang Yimou's "Turandot." Zeng had been the set designer for the production in the Forbidden City.

"I blurted out that Zhang could also direct a ballet drama," said Zhao. After the chat, Zeng told Zhang Yimou of the suggestion.

"Zhang called me before long to express his interest in directing a ballet drama and suggested that one of his movies be adapted for the it," Zhao said.

Finally they chose "Raise High the Red Lantern," because Zhang said he felt that the structure of the movie rendered it adaptable for stage performance.

"It is a totally new job for me," Zhang said. "First of all, I should follow the music when directing the drama. Over the past year, I have communicated with the composers, choreographers and dancers again and again."

Zhang, who wrote the script himself and has made 10 revisions, feels quite confident about the success of the ballet drama. "We have a strong lineup both on stage and back stage," Zhang said.

"I am a newcomer to ballet, and I remember how watching a pas de deux would often leave me drowsy. I hope that this drama will be more entertaining, because I know the feelings of the average audience."

According to Zhang, the tragic fate of the heroine will impress audiences deeply.

Three years ago, when he directed "Turandot," some critics criticized his work. Now they doubt whether Zhang, a neophyte to the dance, will measure up to the challenge.

Zhang put it in his way, "'Turandot' is an exotic creation with many elements already fixed and difficult to revise. The director can do nothing but 'repackage' it. ''

"As for this drama, the script, the music and the dance are all being done by Chinese. It will be quite a different thing than rearranging a classic European opera."

Explaining why he has turned to opera and ballet in recent years, he said: "Reading extensively makes people knowledgeable. Similarly, engaging in a variety of other art forms will help me to improve my films. It is a rare chance for me to learn from so many artists from different circles."

Composer Chen Qigang's comments on his music don't share Zhang's strident optimism.

"It is hard to characterize the style of my music for the ballet. I am trying to express the feeling I get from the story and I just hope that audiences will find the music complements their enjoyment of the drama," Chen said.

So far, Chen has not revealed too much about the music he has written. He has only revealed that melodies from Peking Opera will constitute an important element of it since one of the protagonists in the story is able to sing Peking Opera.

Over the past 16 years, Chen has worked with a lot of world-renowned musicians, winning awards from various foundations as well as international competitions, to become known in European modern music circles as a widely-respected composer of Chinese origin.

Chen encountered Zhao Ruheng two years ago and later they managed to get together a few times in Paris. Each of them was impressed with the other's accomplishments, so it was only natural for them to end up working together in this ballet.

Declining other commissions and social activities, Chen concentrated on composing the music for "Raise High the Red Lantern" starting last June and finished it within four months.

"I value the opportunity to co-operate with Zhang Yimou and the NBC," he said.

Chen also said: "Zhang and I are of the same generation, so we share some similar life experience. I found clear-cut musical images in his script immediately. What's more, through our co-operation, we have found we share many identical views about art and creativity."

Costume designer Jerome Kaplan was invited from France.

Since graduating from the Ecole de la Rue Blanche majoring in stage decoration in 1987, he has designed costumes and decor for a number of operatic productions, including Rossini's "Barber of Seville," Massenet's "Don Quichotte," and Vivaldi's "Montezuma."

Kaplan said: "I feel honoured to work with so many outstanding Chinese artists. Though Chinese culture is very profound, I am trying my best to understand it. I hope the drama will be a success."

For the next one or two months or so the busiest one of the crew will be choreographer Wang Xinpeng. So far, he has not started choreographing the work.

The young choreographer has been getting a lot of attention in European modern ballet circles since he went to Germany in 1989.

Zhao Ruheng invited Wang, as he once worked as choreographer for the NBC, successfully choreographing a few short programmes for the company last year.

"I will try to show the characters' warped mentality and stiff resistance through the use of body language," said Wang.

Critics hope that "Raise High the Red Lantern" will prove to be a landmark Chinese modern ballet in the same class as "The Red Detachment of Women."

The drama is expected to premiere this May in Beijing with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the oldest professional orchestra in China.



Source: chinadaily.com.cn


People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/