CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Monday, February 8, 2021 | 17 LIFE What’s on A festive feel takes center stage Mountain magic The Forbidden City Concert Hall will host a series of performances to celebrate Spring Festival, Chen Nan reports. Liu Haisu, one of 20th-century Chi- na’s greatest artists, produced a stunning body of work depicting various landscapes of Huangshan Mountain in East China’s Anhui province. Between 1918 and 1988, Liu paid 10 visits to Huangshan, one of the country’s “five famous moun- tains”. He fell deeply in love with the mountain, and some of his paintings of its breathtaking scenery have become monumental works in Chi- nese art history. Clouds Under Brushes, an exhibition running at the Liu Haisu Art Museum in Shanghai until Feb 28, pays homage to Liu’s deep emotional attachment to Huangshan. On show are sketch- es and paintings of the mountain from the museum’s collection. It’s a celebration of the 125th anniversary of Liu’s birth. Also on display are photos, videos and articles reflecting Liu’s take on art, life and the world that convey his perspectives of Huangshan’s changing scenery. he Lunar New Year cele- player Wu Yuxia, will perform with 9 am-5 pm, Tuesday-Sunday. 1609 bration, marking the pianists. Yan’an Xi Lu, Changning district, beginning of the Year of “Many of the pieces we’ll perform Shanghai. 021-6270-1018. the Ox, begins on Feb 12. are newly arranged for the festival,” TThis year, people have been encour- Song says. Staging a celebration aged to stay put for the Spring Festi- “Audiences will enjoy a fresh val holiday to control the spread of experience of these two ancient COVID-19, and many people will The pandemic musical instruments, the erhu and spend the holiday in Beijing. pipa.” Five performances, covering a has made Song adds that folk-music ele- diversity of art forms, such as Peking people feel ments from different parts of China, Opera, vocal performances and tra- such as Pingtan (storytelling and ditional Chinese music, will be stressed and singing in the Suzhou dialect to staged at the Forbidden City Concert anxious for a music) and ethnic Mongolian music, Hall in the capital from Feb 12 to 26. whole year.” will be integrated into the pieces. Star performers from the Jingju “The pandemic has made people Jingju Theater Company of Beijing will Theater Company of Beijing, Hu Biao, conductor feel stressed and anxious for a stage four classic Peking Opera pieces including Chi Xiaoqiu, Du Zhenjie, of the Poly Tiange whole year,” says conductor Hu — The Lucky Purse, Yang Silang Vis- Zhang Huifang and Hu Wenge, will Traditional Chinese Biao, who’ll lead the Poly Tiange its His Mother, The Matchmaker and Orchestra present a show, featuring classic Traditional Chinese Orchestra to Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix — Peking Opera pieces. perform at the Forbidden City Con- to celebrate Spring Festival. Star per- Jingju, or Peking Opera, was cert Hall on Feb 26, which is the formers of the company, including Ma inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible date for Lantern Festival this year. Botong, Wang Xueqing and Zhu cultural heritage list in 2010. “We need a moment to relax dur- Qiang, will perform leading roles. The leading artists emulate the ing the festival.” Founded in 1979, the company, for- performance styles of different Tianjin Song and Dance Theater merly known as Beijing Peking Peking Opera masters, such as Mei president Lu Sheng, who heads the Opera Theater, has a long tradition Lanfang (1894-1961), Cheng Yanqiu traditional Chinese operas, such as rong, who performs with the Jingju newly founded Poly Tiange Tradi- of keeping the 200-year-old genre (1904-58) and Yang Baosen (1909- Pingju Opera and Hebei Bangzi Theater Company of Beijing and is tional Chinese Orchestra, says rep- alive and training younger genera- 58). They’ll present such programs Opera, will stage a show to show- also a winner of the Plum Perform- ertoires will include classic Chinese tions of performers. as Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix case these ancient art forms’ beau- ance Award. “The pandemic made works, such as The Spring Festival 7:30 pm, Feb 13-17. National Center and The Drunken Concubine. ty. the Spring Festival special since Overture composed by Li Huanzhi for the Performing Arts. No 2 West “It’s a longstanding tradition for “There are over 270 kinds of Chi- many people can’t go back to their in 1949, Dance of the Yao People by Chang’an Avenue, Xicheng district, the Forbidden City Concert Hall to nese opera. The three major types hometowns. We hope our shows Peng Xiuwen and suona (double- Beijing. 010-6655-0000. bring performances to audiences are Peking, Pingju and Hebei Bang- could help them feel relaxed and reeded horn) solo piece Family Por- during Spring Festival. The pro- zi, which are popular among audi- entertained.” Top: The Poly Tiange Tradi- trait performed by Zhao Cuncai. A rich history grams appeal to families,” says For- ences in places like Beijing, Tianjin Romantic songs will be per- tional Chinese Orchestra will “It’ll be the first time for the bidden City Concert Hall general and cities in Hebei province,” says formed by such musicians as pian- perform classic Chinese works orchestra to perform in the capital manager Xu Jian. The venue is veteran Pingju Opera performer ist Zhang Jialin, soprano Gan Lulu at the Forbidden City Concert during Spring Festival, and all the located inside Zhongshan Park, Zeng Shaojuan, who’ll give a per- and harpist Sun Shimeng during a Hall on Feb 26. music pieces fit the festive atmos- near Tian’anmen Square. formance on Feb 13. concert on Feb 14, to celebrate Val- Middle and above: Erhu player phere,” Lu says. “It has been 12 years for artists The 55-year-old started to per- entine’s Day. Actor Shi Yueling will Song Fei and pipa player Wu Poly Tiange Traditional Chinese from the Jingju Theater Company form Pingju Opera at age 15 and is a read romantic poems by the likes of Yuxia will team up to bring a Orchestra just gave a series of New of Beijing to perform on the first day winner of the Plum Performance William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde show featuring new arrange- Year concerts in Tianjin and plans of the Lunar New Year,” she says. Award, China’s top prize for theater and Nie Luda. ments of traditional Chinese to tour cities in Hebei province after Audience members must wear and opera performances. Traditional Chinese-instrument music pieces at the Forbid- the Spring Festival holiday. facemasks and book tickets online “We will perform classic pieces musicians, including erhu (two- den City Concert Hall during because of the COVID-19 pandemic. and contemporary works,” says stringed fiddle) player Song Fei and the Spring Festival holiday. Contact the writer at The Ming (1368-1644) and Qing On Feb 13, more performers of Peking Opera artist Wang Rong- pipa (four-stringed Chinese lute) PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY [email protected] (1644-1911) dynasties saw the rise of merchants from Shanxi province. This influential group, often referred to as jin shang (Shanxi mer- Orchestrating a happy Lunar New Year chants), enjoyed a monopoly over the salt industry and banking at the time. An accumulation of wealth By CHEN NAN west China’s Yunnan province, also “We want to send festive greet- over several generations also result- participated. ings and best wishes to overseas ed in the popularity of wearing sil- The China National Traditional The annual “Happy Chinese New Chinese and to people worldwide ver accessories among people in Orchestra and musicians from the Year” event initiated by the Ministry with these performances that not Shanxi throughout the first half of Chicago Symphony Orchestra per- of Culture and Tourism in 2010 only offer a window to showcase the 20th century. An ongoing exhibi- formed a livestreamed virtual con- brings a series of live performances traditional Chinese culture but also tion at Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan cert under the baton of conductor to audiences around the world to invite people all over the world to through April 20 traces the history Liu Fengde on Feb 4 to mark the celebrate Lunar New Year with a join Lunar New Year celebrations,” of this unique fashion trend. On approach of the Year of the Ox, diversity of art forms, including Shen said during the opening cere- show are a variety of vintage silver which begins on Feb 12. music, dance and acrobatics, as well mony on Feb 4 at Beijing’s Tianqiao accessories from several museums The concert, organized by China as Chinese food and folk culture. Performing Arts Center. in Shanxi and private collections. A Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd, Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Long Yun Kungfu Troupe, a tour- display of intricate ornamental featured four parts based on the sea- this year’s “Happy Chinese New Year” ing ensemble of talented Chinese accessories to adorn people’s hair, sons and presented such programs will feature online programs to enable martial artists founded by Jackie hands, arms, necks and clothes as Lantern Festival-Viewing Lan- global audiences to experience Spring Chan, gave a live performance with shows technical refinement and dis- terns by Ma Jiuyue; The Sky Is High Festival culture in their homes. percussionist Wang Jianan during tinctive taste, as well as people’s and the Clouds Are Pale by Feng Shen Haixiong, director of China the opening ceremony. aspirations for prosperity, health Mantian; and Winter Solstice-Lucki- Media Group, the co-organizer of “The COVID-19 pandemic hit in and longevity.