Making its Middle East debut at Dubai Opera, the Shanghai Opera House is set to take centre stage next month with two moving performances. The prestigious company will be performing Puccini's Turandot opera from Thursday, September 5 until Saturday, September 7. The following week they will be performing original dance drama Early Spring on Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12. The performances will be brought to the stage in partnership with both the Shanghai Grand Theatre and Shanghai Opera House.
Puccini's Turandot is one of the composer's most celebrated operas and features arguably the most famous tenor aria in the opera. Nessun Dorma is an instantly recognisable piece of music. The opera is set in ancient China and tells the story of Princess Turandot, who announces that she will marry the man who can solve her three riddles, but gravely punish those who cannot. Naturally, heads roll until the arrival of a clever prince who is determined to win over the princess, or die trying.
According to Dubai Opera, "This version of Turandot consists of more than 200 artists, and it turns the legend between eastern and western cultures into a test of fear and love. In this version produced by Shanghai Opera House, Puccini's encyclopedia-style opera looks like a prism and it reflects the modernity in the music or the 20th century."
Audiences will also be treated to original contemporary dance piece, Early Spring, composed by Du Wei, directed by Wang Yuanyuan, and performed by Shanghai Opera House Dance Ensemble.
The story has been adapted from the novel Rou Shi's novel, February, and will present audiences with contradictions between ideality and reality.
Of the collaboration between the two opera houses, Xu Zhong, President of Shanghai Opera House said in February this year, “2019 is an extraordinary year for Shanghai Opera House because we’ll make our Middle East debut at the splendid Dubai Opera. It’s a great pleasure for us to open up the 2019-2020 Dubai Opera season, and we sincerely hope that this visit could be a wonderful beginning for the cultural exchanges between us two countries.”
Dubai Opera’s Chief Executive, Jasper Hope, added: “I am delighted to be able to announce this major partnership with the Shanghai Grand Theatre and the wonderful company of the Shanghai Opera House to bring these two beautiful and spectacular productions to Dubai Opera ... We are honoured to be able to collaborate in this way for the first time with such an important company from China.”
More information is available from Dubaiopera.com
