Dongyi's 2023/24 Autumn/Winter Performance Season with "Infinite Life and Spectrum in the Heart" Released
On September 12th, a dopamine colored "Youpu" bookstore appeared at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center. Viewers can transform into readers and freely choose from the "Youpu" bookstore to preview the music scores related to the 2023/24 autumn and winter performance season of Dongyi's "Infinite Life · Heart with Score" officially released that night, opening up connections with art, city, and the world.
Starting from the 2023/24 autumn/winter performance season, Dongyi will provide music scores on the day of each heavyweight concert for the audience to review. Opening the menu for the new performance season, from September 2023 to February 2024, 61 sets of 101 exciting performances will be presented to the audience. Dongyi will create a content highland for international famous artists and groups to come to Shanghai, adding fuel to the fully developed Shanghai performance market.
The original path and comprehensive aesthetic education practice of "Dongyi Manufacturing" will also usher in new highlights, creating a spiritual place with cultural value for citizens in all aspects. Lei Wen, the general manager of Dongyi, said, "Looking towards the future, Dongyi not only needs to create 'reputable' theaters, but also needs to produce 'reliable' plays."
The world-class team returns to their familiar "Chinese home"
For a long time, many overseas classical music super bands have regarded Dongyi as their preferred venue for performances in China. In the new performance season, multiple classical foreign-related performances planned and organized by Dongyi. Before the ticket was issued, it was highly sought after by music fans, including the complete "Rakh" Steel Association concert by Mazuyev, and many other projects quickly sold out after the ticket was issued. The world-class band will return to the familiar "China Home" under the guidance of the peak conductor and present a precious commemorative scene.
The new performance season kicked off with two symphonic orchestras, one from the east and one from the west. On September 2nd, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra made its fifth appearance on the stage of Dongyi. Led by Dutch conductor Van Zhiden, they teamed up with international violinist Yang Tianwa to warm up the new performance season with a Mendelssohn night. On the evening of September 13th, the 2023/24 performance season of Dongyi was officially unveiled by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra of Poland, a renowned Eastern European symphony orchestra. Polish conductor Jacques Kaspchik and pianist Chensa brought an all Slavic music feast together.
This season will also continue to gather the authentic voice of Russia. Under the leadership of the 90 year conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra will perform the authoritative performances of "Chai Wu" and "Chai Liu" on September 21. The highly popular Dzeyev and Malinsky Symphony Orchestra will also make a grand return on October 17th. From October 24th to 25th, the audience will also welcome the popular European conductor "Ghost Talent" Theodore Kurenckis to perform in China for the first time. At that time, he will lead his music eternal band to interpret all Russian works. Germany is known for its musical achievements. The Dresden National Orchestra, which has performed for four times at Dongyi, will return from November 1st to 2nd under the guidance of conductor Tillerman on the occasion of the band's 475th birthday, presenting world-renowned German and Austrian works and celebratory songs to the Shanghai audience.
In addition, the Vienna Concert Orchestra will bring the Vienna Philharmonic Solo Concert, as well as the Vienna Voice Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Tula Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, the National Model Symphony Orchestra of Russia, and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra of Germany, among others, to inject fresh blood into the symphony section and broaden the audience's appreciation perspective.
The solo and chamber music sections will also shine brightly. The 2023 Piano Journey Around the World in the Pianist Series will welcome the heaviest concert in Shanghai in the second half of the year - Mazuyev will challenge the complete set of Rachmaninov Piano Concertos for 5 hours, and the internationally acclaimed pianist Wang Yujia will conclude the 2023 Dongyi Pianist Series. Japanese music star Mako Fujita, Italian pianist Alexander Romanovsky, Russian piano master Andrei Pisalev, and others will also appear in this series. In terms of soloists, new violinists such as Maxim Vinglov and Chaisai Piano Group champion Sergei Davydchenko will also play colorful melodies.
Pianist Chen Sa, who participated in the opening concert, arrived at the press conference first and was invited to become the spokesperson for the new performance season. "Seeing so many overseas celebrities and groups in the new performance season, I feel that a thriving atmosphere has returned." Chen Sa said, "I want to move my home to Dongyi!"
Homemade drama "Xiang Yan'an" portrays the "flavor of Shanghai"
In addition to its distinctive positioning based on "classicism", Dongyi adheres to a brand path of "youthfulness, diversification, and branding". This year marks the tenth anniversary of the proposal of the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" initiative. In the new performance season, the St. Petersburg Effman Ballet has returned to Shanghai after four years. It will bring the familiar "Anna Karenina" to Shanghai audiences and the first tour performance of the play "Eugene Onegin" in China; The Israeli Camia Modern Dance Troupe will also perform the epic masterpiece "Bran's Poetry", interpreting Carl Orff's legendary music with his body movements; The Central Ballet will present two classic works, "Red Detachment of Women" and "Swan Lake", showcasing the charm of a "national" renowned theater troupe. The Romanian Ortegna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moldova National Symphony Orchestra, the Arab Chief Performer Chamber Orchestra, the Babylonian National Ancient Orchestra, etc. will also use melodies to open foreign imagination and show the unique historical and cultural features of countries along the "the Belt and Road".
In the drama section, this year it will be presented with a more international perspective. The Berlin Theatre Festival in China is the first live performance to enter Dongyi. The film "New Life: Where We Will Go" produced by the Bochum Theatre in Germany and directed by Christopher Lupin will debut at Dongyi at the end of November. Chinese drama directors Hu Zongqi, Fang Xu, Zhao Miao, and others will pay tribute to literature with their respective masterpieces "White Deer Plain", "Camel Xiangzi", and "Fifteen Days of Two Capitals". Meng Jinghui's plays "A Letter from a Strange Woman" and "Red and Black" will once again return, showcasing the charm of Chinese drama.
In addition to introducing world-class programs, "Dongyi Manufacturing" adheres to the artistic value concept of "being both popular and popular", continues to exert high-level creative ability, and will launch a new homemade play "Xiang Yan'an" with Chinese style and Shanghai style characteristics, showcasing the profound cultural heritage and artistic charm of China. It plans to hold its world premiere in Shanghai on May 27, 2024, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Shanghai's liberation.
The Shanghai style spy drama "Xiang Yan'an" is adapted from the novel of the same name by famous writer Hai Fei and directed by renowned director Li Bonan. This drama is also the first time that Hai Fei's work has been adapted to the stage. This drama is set against the backdrop of the chaotic Shanghai in the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, continuing the theme and plot of the original novel. It tells the story of the protagonist's hardships and perseverance in ideals and beliefs during the chaotic times. This drama will deeply depict complex human nature through rich group portraits, conveying truth, goodness, and beauty in contradictions and conflicts. Immerse the audience in the espionage scene with a highly immersive sense of participation, leading them to experience a spiritual journey of contemplating human nature and exploring faith.
"I have written novels for over 20 years and scripts for over 10 years, but all of them are TV dramas. This is my first drama work." Hai Fei is full of anticipation for "Xiang Yan'an" being produced by Dongyi and brought to the stage. "I hope the work can portray the heroes and patriotism of that era." Li Bonan also said, "I think this collaboration will definitely spark sparks, allowing characters, emotions, and the taste of Shanghai to shine on stage."
Comprehensive Aesthetic Education Practice and Brand Renewal
In addition to the performance, Dongyi continues to leverage the platform and resource advantages of the theater to expand its theater service landscape, engage in comprehensive aesthetic education practices and brand renewal, and fully concentrate on the high-quality implementation of the "Social Art Education Plan".
Public welfare and popular performance brands such as "Oriental Citizen Concert" and "Future Master Solo Ensemble Series Concert" benefit audiences with a low ticket price of up to 80 yuan. Starting from September, the monthly "Audience Art Enjoyment Day" will collaborate with renowned professors from six universities, including Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tongji University, East China Normal University, Shanghai Academy of Drama, and Shanghai Conservatory of Music, to conduct a series of lectures on "Encountering Beauty" cultural tours. The theme event of "Chinese Theatre Cultural Journey" will depart again in autumn and winter, leading the audience to explore cultural imprints in the ancient town of Jiangnan. Starting from September, the two art education and popularization event brands "Oriental City Light" and "Youth China Talk" will also welcome multiple young talents from the industry to share their insights.
In terms of Dongyi Art Education, the autumn rehearsals of Dongyi Children's Art Troupe are also starting simultaneously. This year, Dongyi Children's Choir has expanded again, and Dongyi Children's Street Dance Troupe will add new dance genres. Dongyi Youth Music Troupe will also welcome the third original musical "Imaginary" authorized to cooperate with the National Youth Music Troupe in the UK. This is a musical that tells the miracles of childhood, the power of imagination, and the meaning of growth. Currently, the audition for young actors has been fully opened, and the group will be established in the golden autumn. The previously highly anticipated Art Education Alliance will also hold a year-end performance, where member units will exchange and share the achievements of art education, enhance interaction and mutual learning among all parties, and help promote a progressive environment of art education through performance.
The new performance season with the theme of "Infinite Life and Score in the Heart" is not only a reflection of the growing love of Shanghai audiences for carrying music scores to enjoy concerts, but also signifies the ability to gain spiritual power in art. It is also hoped that all people who love art can reap the infinite possibilities of a down-to-earth life. Lei Wen said, "Selling tickets is certainly important, but for Dongyi, this is only the beginning of theater services. How to continuously meet the audience's increasingly improving artistic taste and aesthetic needs with first-class content and services, Dongyi will continue to explore and optimize."
Text: Cao Zhiguang
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