A Dream of Red Mansions is the pinnacle of classical Chinese literature, which was written by CAO Xueqin, a Chinese writer of the Qing Dynasty. On account of its remarkable artistic achievements and profound ideological implications, the masterpiece remains honoured as the encyclopedia of ancient China and the epitome of traditional Chinese culture.
As a globally influential epic work that is set in the rise and fall of four aristocratic families, namely JIA, SHI, WANG and XUE, the book depicts the life experiences of a few beautiful female intellectuals, who have proven to be better than men in manners and knowledge, demonstrating the true beauty of humanity and tragedy.
The Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts’ dance drama commission A Dream of Red Mansions is based on highlights of the original novel with the tragedy of love and marriage between JIA Baoyu, LIN Daiyu and XUE Baochai as the plot. From the perspective of the new era, the classical Chinese literary masterpiece will be staged by conductor ZHANG Lie, composer ZHAO Bo, dancer LI Xing and director LI Chao, together with cast and crew members featuring outstanding representatives of Chinese dancers.
Creatives
Guidance: Publicity Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC
Academic Guidance: A Dream of Red Mansions Institute of Chinese National Academy of Arts
Planner: Jiangsu Culture Investment Management Group Co., Ltd.
Presenter: Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts
Co-Presenter: Nanjing Chinese Orchestra
Co-Producer: Li Xing Dance Studio
Executive Presenter: LIAO Yi
Supervisors: LI Sisi, GU Ping, XU Kai, DAI Yin
Original Script: CAO Xueqin
Stage Directors: LI Xing, LI Chao
Librettists: CUI Lei, LI Yicheng
Composer: ZHAO Bo
Set Designer: HU Yanjun
Lighting / Visual Projection Designer: XIAO Lihe
Costume Designer: LI Kun
Hair Style Designer: JIA Lei
Video Projection Designer: YANG Yi
Choreographers: LI Chao, LI Xing
Entering JIA Mansion: All that is seen and heard is what is so unique to a distinguished family. Does any person out of the mortal world know such things?
Dreamland: Life is full of gnawing regrets while the sea is filled with distress. “Falsehood and truth may be transformed into each other, while falsehood sometimes appears more real than truth”. In a dream, there are a group of lonely souls playing fools.
Hardship: Because of predestined love, Baoyu and Daiyu meet each other by chance, gazing at each other as if they have a lot to say.
Homecoming: Flowers colour brocade while raging flames heat oil. Bouquets of flowers constitute piles of brocades in a lively atmosphere. The Imperial Concubine sheds tears for six times as if having many secret sorrows.
Garden Party: The striking clock, dressing mirror… grass and beans, which are tiny, bring out the clamour of the banquet, but suddenly, the mansion collapses.
Flower Funeral: In the city of sorrows, the heart is falling with a blast of wind. Without a bosom friend or intimate, she cannot but make a flower tomb in person show pity for herself.
Lantern Festival: The glow of fire is flushing into the sky over the courtyard, with incense ashes scattered on the ground. What a great mansion it is. Brilliant flames make the world colourful, but everything is already burnt to ashes in a moment.
Jade Loss: Gee! It turned up without casting a shadow and left without leaving a trace, and once leaned against an ancient pine at the foot of Qinggeng Peak. If you want to look for it, you’d better tramp over mountains and walk in my door.
Counter-acting Bad Luck: The people in the world just say that scenery and love are good, whereas nobody knows that the autumn moon and spring flowers are short-lived. She never forgets the Moon Palace!
Reunion: Joy, laughter, sorrow and grief are all false, brought about by blind passions.
Flower Burial: She is my sister, after all. Moreover, she has unique looks and talents. Only the goddess of snow and Chang’e can be comparable to her.
Return to the Distant Place: I have nowhere to go and will only return to the distant place.
歌剧院
音乐厅
戏剧场
小剧场
