Singing Tolstoy's praises

In a remarkable fusion of artistic vision and cultural exchange, the classic Russian literary masterpiece War and Peace is being re-imagined as a Chinese musical.

This ambitious project by the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing marks the first time that the famous novel by Leo Tolstoy is given a musical adaptation on the Chinese stage. It will premiere at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre on Dec 20 and runs until Dec 29, vice-president of the national center Zhang Yao, announced during a news conference in Beijing on Nov 20.Leading cast members also appeared at the conference, and gave a performance of Great Comet, a song from the musical.

A distinguished team of artists, including Russian theater director Alina Chevik, composer Shu Nan, and playwright Yu Rongjun, came together to breathe new life into the epic tale.

"We spent two years working on the musical. Our vision was to capture the grandeur of Tolstoy's novel, while translating its complex characters and deep philosophical themes into the vibrant, emotional language of musical theater," says Zhang. "This collaboration between Chinese and Russian artists reflects not only shared artistic goals, but also the spirit of international cooperation that brought this project to fruition."

Zhang adds that since its establishment in 2007, the national center has emphasized the diversity of performing arts, achieving remarkable success in the creation of productions, including operas, dances and dramas. War and Peace is the first musical by the institution, and its 112th production overall.

Tolstoy's literary classic is widely regarded as a monumental work of Russian literature. It is set against the backdrop of major historical events in the early 19th-century Russia, and follows the lives of four aristocratic families amid the tumultuous events of war and peace. It has been adapted many times into films, TV series, operas and other art forms, and is loved around the world.

Chevik has worked in the genres of musical theater and operetta for many years. The musical of Anna Karenina, another adaptation of a Tolstoy novel and also directed by Chevik, was staged at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre in October.

The director brings her deep emotional connection to this icon of Russian literature into the musical. Having worked closely with the cast, Chevik provided in-depth character analysis and meticulous direction and throughout the creative process collaborated with the composer and playwright to spark the artistic inspiration necessary to present this classic in a modern perspective.

"Turning War and Peace into a musical presents a number of unique challenges, primarily due to the complexity of the source material and the requirements of the musical theater format," the director says. "It is a sprawling, multilayered epic, with a vast array of characters, intricate storylines and deep philosophical themes. It spans several years, covering key historical events, and delves into personal journeys, love, betrayal and the meaning of life. Translating this expansive narrative into the concise, emotional storytelling format of a musical is inherently challenging."

She adds that the creative team worked together to find innovative ways to visually and musically represent the novel's grand scale, from battle scenes to intimate social gatherings, while maintaining the integrity of the original material.

Chevik invited longtime collaborators — choreographer Irina Korneeva, and set and costume designer Vyacheslav Okunev to be part of the production. They had worked together on the Anna Karenina musical.

"I've worked many times with Alina, and we know each other's artistic style and way of working," says Korneeva. "The choreography for this musical is rooted in the Russian classical tradition, and incorporates elements of European court dance, waltz, polonaise and Russian folk dance, reflecting the aristocratic life described in Tolstoy's novel."

"Condensing such a complex story without losing its depth, context and emotional resonance is not easy," says Yu, who also wrote the lyrics for the Chinese adaptation. "War and Peace is deeply embedded in Russian history and culture. To stay true to its origins, the musical adaptation must respect the cultural and historical setting while also making the story appealing to a contemporary audience. This includes depicting Russian aristocracy, military life, and the sociopolitical landscape in a way that feels authentic, but is also understandable and relatable to a Chinese audience.

"What this production offers audiences is a reflection on how to draw strength from life's struggles. No matter what hardships one faces, one must have the courage to continue living. We can find our strength within ourselves, as it is the source of happiness," Yu says.

Shu, who is known for the soundtracks for films, including The Founding of a Republic (2009) and Let the Bullets Fly (2010), composed the songs for War and Peace.

"It's definitely a highlight of my career to write songs for this musical," Shu says. "I tried to write songs that both represent the complexity of each character and move their individual stories forward, while ensuring that the musical numbers are emotionally powerful and thematically relevant. Each character's journey must be distilled into memorable musical moments that resonate emotionally with the audience."