Boom city swaps commerce for culture
By Chen Jie and Zou Huilin (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-10-15 09:09

Life and death

Zhao is satisfied with the two scenes. Lin falls ill and ultimately dies of heart-break after losing Jia. The jubilant wedding sharply contrasts with Lin's death. A large piece of red silk symbolizing the happy wedding separates Jia and Lin from life to death.

As for the scene of burying the fallen flowers, Zhao could not conceal his confidence of his interpretation, saying "it is most poetic and romantic compared with those in the previous versions of movie, TV, local opera and dance."

The score composed by Su Tsong helps to highlight the show. Su won the Oscar Award in 1988 for his composition for Bernrado Bertolucci's film "Last Emperor."

Su's score has two major themes - hopeful love, mainly in Act I to highlight the romance between Lin and Jia. And a splendid symphonic tune to announce the grand wedding.

The score combines symphonic elements and Peking Opera and folk music from North China's Hebei Province.

Echoing the opening dance, the closing show of the arts festival will be Carlos Saura's Flamenco dance "Salome" which tells a classic story of jealousy, sensuality and revenge through the magic of Flamenco.

Spanish dancer Aida Gomez plays the role of the female principal, Salome, in  Carlos Saura's Flamenco dance "Salome."

Saura is regarded as one of the best Spanish directors and noted film-makers in the world.

In this musical treatment of the Biblical legend of Salome, who asked for the head of John the Baptist in return for a dance, Saura, with his undying passion for dance, sharp insight and charisma, uses a fusion of music, dance, theatre, light and colour to examine the creative process, to celebrate art and to illustrate and review history and to construct dense and compelling narratives.

The talented Spanish dancer Aida Gomez is cast in the role of the female principal Salome. She was so outstanding in her skills that at the age of 17, she became the principal dancer of the Spanish National Ballet Company.

Chen Shenlai, head of the festival's organizing committee said highlights included "French Culture in Shanghai," a mini-festival within festival.

A dozen events by French artists include music, opera, dance and art. For example, the world premiere of French opera "Les Paladins" has attracted great attention from both French and Chinese artistic circles - and French President Chirac.

Apart from "Les Paladins," the Ballet Classic "Sylvia" performed by dancers from the Opera de Paris and National Ballet of China has also drawn a lot of attention, according to Chen.

Experts from Shanghai Conservatory of Music believe the music category to be a faithful review of past performances, featuring several international masters who had performed rounds of the art festival including the noted conductor Christoph Eschenbachby, cellist Yo-yo Ma and tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Chen believes the comeback of these music masters shows past festivals have made these masters love the Shanghai audience.