07-11 Red Detachment_Gp 3.qxt 6/30/15 11:47 AM Page 1 Lincoln Center Festival lead support is provided by American Express July 11 –12 David H. Koch Theater National Ballet of China Feng Ying, Artistic Director The Red Detachment of Women Prelude and ballet in six scenes Adapted from the film The Red Detachment of Women with a screenplay by Liang Xin Choreographers Li Chengxiang, Jiang Zuhui, Wang Xixian Composers Wu Zuqiang, Du Mingxin, Dai Hongwei, Shi Wanchun, Wang Yanqiao Composer of “The Song of the Detachment” Huang Zhun Stage Design Ma Yunhong Lighting Design Liang Hongzhou National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra Conductors Zhang Yi , Liu Ju Approximate performance time: 2 hours 15 minutes, including one intermission Major support for Lincoln Center Festival 2015 is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This performance is made possible in part by the Josie Robertson Fund for Lincoln Center. Lincoln Center Festival 2015 is made possible in part with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Endowment support for the Lincoln Center Festival 2015 presentation of the National Ballet of China is provided by Blavatnik Family Foundation Fund for Dance. The Lincoln Center Festival 2015 presentation of the National Ballet of China is made possible in part by generous support from Yang Lan and The Joelson Foundation. National Ballet of China’s participation in Lincoln Center Festival is made possible by the support of the Ministry of Culture of China and the China National Arts Fund. 07-11 Red Detachment_Gp 3.qxt 6/30/15 11:47 AM Page 2 LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL 2015 THE RED DETACHMENT OF WOMEN July 11, 2015, at 8:00 p.m. July 12, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. The Red Detachment of Women Qionghua Zhang Jian (July 11), Lu Na (July 12) Hong Changqing Zhou Zhaohui (July 11), Li Ke (July 12) Company Commander Lu Di (July 11), Li Jie (July 12) Xiao’e Wang Ye Xiaoping Wang Hao (July 11), Zheng Yu (July 12) Comrade in Arms Zhu Yan (July 11), Hou Shuang (July 12) Nan Batian Li Ke (July 11), Zhou Zhaohui (July 12) Lao Si Li Jun (July 11), Jiang Wei (July 12) Cast subject to change 07-11 Red Detachment_Gp 3.qxt 6/30/15 11:47 AM Page 3 LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL 2015 THE RED DETACHMENT OF WOMEN Synopsis Prelude Night, in the dungeon of the local despot, Nan Batian (Lord of the South) Qionghua, a poor peasant’s daughter, is bound to a pillar and about to be sold by Nan’s lackey, Lao Si. Qionghua kicks Lao Si to the ground and escapes. Scene 1 Later that night in a coconut grove Qionghua is captured by Nan Batian’s henchmen and beaten unconscious. Believing Qionghua is dead, Nan Batian leaves. The Red Army cadre, Hong Changqing, and the messenger, Xiao Pang, are on a scouting mission and are in disguise. When they pass by the coconut grove they discover Qionghua, revive her, and send her off to the Red Area. Scene 2 Morning, a few days later at the Square in the Red Area Colorful flags fly under a boundless blue sky as the soldiers and citizens celebrate the founding of the Red Detachment of Women. Upon her arrival, Qionghua is warmly received. Her story of suffering at the hands of Nan Batian provokes the soldiers and the people. The Party Representative of the Detachment, Hong Changqing, inspires the sol - diers and the people with Qionghua’s bitter stories. Qionghua joins the Red Detachment and is presented with a rifle by her company officer. Scene 3 Dusk in the despot’s courtyard Disguised as a rich businessman, Hong Changqing attends Nan Batian’s birthday feast. He has planned to fire a shot at midnight to signal the Red Detachment to begin their raid on the bandits. As night falls, Qionghua sneaks into the enemy’s den to contact Xiao Pang. When she runs into Nan Batian she cannot suppress her rage and shoots at the despot, accidentally setting off the raid early. Nan Batian escapes and flees by way of an underground tunnel. Hong Changqing leads the detachment in an attack that captures the enemy’s den. The Red Army opens Nan Batian’s barn and distributes food to the people. The poor rural folk celebrate their liberation. Qionghua’s violation of discipline has compromised the opera - tion and Hong Changqing reproaches her. Intermission 07-11 Red Detachment_Gp 3.qxt 6/30/15 11:47 AM Page 4 LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL 2015 THE RED DETACHMENT OF WOMEN Scene 4 Early morning in the Red Army Camp Hong Changqing lectures the Red Detachment of Women on politics and reminds the soldiers of the need for discipline. Qionghua understands and becomes determined to fight for the liberation of the country. Rural folk pick lychees and make bamboo hats for the Red Army as a sign of appreciation. An order is received and cannon fire is heard. Nan Batian’s followers are attacking the Red Area. With their confidence restored, everyone hurries out to combat the enemy. Scene 5 Before dawn at a mountain pass Planning to cut the enemy off from reinforcements, the main forces of the Red Army shift quickly to the back of the enemy camp. Hong Changqing leads the detachment to guard the mountain pass. He is injured while giving cover for his comrades and is knocked unconscious and captured. Interlude The Red Army advances on the enemy. Scene 6 Dusk in the backyard of Nan Batian’s house Getting the upper hand in the combat, the Red Army closes in on the enemy. Nan Batian makes a final effort to fight back and tries to force Hong Changqing to surrender. Hong refuses at the cost of his life. As the dark clouds part a rainbow appears. The Red Army has succeeded in liberating the coconut grove and Nan Batian is killed. Qionghua becomes the Party Representative. The whole community joins the Red Army and the sound of their combat songs ring out: “March, march, march, forward for victory!” 07-11 Red Detachment_Gp 3.qxt 6/30/15 11:47 AM Page 5 LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL 2015 THE RED DETACHMENT OF WOMEN About The Red of Western Europe, but Russian ballet companies had been visiting the People’s Detachment of Women Republic of China regularly since the coun - Since its world premiere in 1964, the National try was established in 1949. When the Ballet of China (NBC) has performed The Cultural Revolution began in China in 1966, Red Detachment of Women nearly 4,000 classical ballet was categorized as capital - times at theaters throughout the world. It istic and all Western-style ballet schools was the first Chinese ballet created in the were quickly shut down. Since The Red newly formed People’s Republic of China, Detachment of Women had already had its thereby securing its reputation as an artis - premiere and met the restrictions that were tic landmark of the 1960s and ’70s. While imposed upon Revolutionary ballets— NBC’s repertoire includes numerous classics including, among other things, stories that of the Western canon, The Red Detachment were Chinese in subject, choreography of Women is an original Chinese work and with no traditional lifts and pirouettes, and engendered a totally new ideological art no tutus, just Mao suits, military uniforms, form. The ballet takes inspiration from a or traditional Chinese costumes—it was 1961 film, which was itself based on the allowed to be performed. Ballerinas armed screenplay by Liang Xin. The plot pays trib - with rifles and dressed in green military ute to the Detachment’s real-life counter - garb make the performance seem to com - part, the all-female Special Company of prise equal parts ballet and Chinese his - the Second Independent Division of the tory. The choreography is accompanied by Chinese Red Army. A dec laration of Cold several songs inspired by folk pieces from War confidence, The Red Detachment of Hainan Island in the South China Sea, Women is remembered in the West as the where the ballet is set. In addition to being ballet staged for Richard Nixon during his overtly patriotic, the plot features female historic 1972 visit to China, and the advancement during a time when such “Changqing Points the Way” section is mobility was practically unattainable in prominently referenced in John Adams’ other parts of the world. For the better part 1987 opera Nixon in China . The ballet waned of 50 years, The Red Detachment of Women in popularity after the Cultural Revolution has remained popular in China, where it is ended in 1976, but was revived in 1992 to seen as a treasure of the nation’s heritage. great acclaim. —Gabriel Mizrachi Much like The Peony Pavilion (NBC’s other ballet seen earlier this week at Lincoln About the Artistic Director Center Festiva l), the choreography blends Feng Ying (Director and Artistic Director) Western balletic styles and Chinese folk graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy dancing—the spellbinding result is a prod - and joined the National Ballet of China in uct of collaborations between choreogra - 1980. In 1982 she was sent to the Paris phers Li Chengxiang, Jiang Zuhui, and Opera and studied with ballet masters includ - Wang Xixian. ing Maurice Bejart and Rosella Hightower. She has danced the whole repertoire It may seem unconventional to tell a story staged by NBC including Swan Lake , Giselle , that passionately celebrates China’s com - Don Quixote , The Maid of the Sea , and The munist roots using an art form that origi - Red Detachment of Women .