International Opera Film Exhibition hits town
Organized by the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, the NCPA International Opera Film Exhibition will show 11 films of Chinese and Western operas and a gala at Broadway Cinematheque at the MixC World and Palace LUXE Cinema at Raffles City.
‘Maria by Callas’ (2018)
“Maria by Callas” is a definitive documentary on the extraordinary life and work of the Greek-American opera singer, which features never before seen footage and performances of Maria Callas.
Time: 7:20 p.m., Nov. 8 (Broadway Cinematheque); 1:30 p.m., Nov. 13 (Palace LUXE Cinema)
‘The Long March’ (2016)
“The Long March” was produced by the NCPA in memory of the 80th anniversary of the Chinese Red Army’s victory in the Long March. The opera faithfully recreates the hardships that were suffered by the Chinese Red Army on the Long March from October 1934 to October 1936. After experiencing more than 380 battles and passing through 700 counties in 14 provinces, the Red Army marched as far as 12,500 kilometers from Central and East China to their new base in the northwest.
Time: 7:20 p.m., Nov. 9 (Broadway Cinematheque); 7:30 p.m., Nov. 16 (Palace LUXE Cinema)
‘Jinsha River’ (2017)
The NCPA opera “Jinsha River” was created for the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. “Jinsha River” tells the story of what happened between the Red Army trekking on the Long March and people living in Tibetan areas along the river in 1935. For this opera, composer Lei Lei has used a lot of Tibetan music elements.
Time: 7:20 p.m., Nov. 10 (Broadway Cinematheque); 7:30 p.m., Nov. 17 (Palace LUXE Cinema)
‘The White-haired Girl’ (2016)
As a milestone play in the history of Chinese theater, the classic opera “The White-haired Girl” caused a sensation when its earliest edition debuted at the revolutionary base of Yan’an in Shaanxi Province in 1945. The story centers on Xi’er, a poor peasant’s daughter who is forced to hide in the mountains to escape the abuse of a greedy, cruel landlord. During her time in hiding, the shortage of nutrition makes her black hair turn white. Now, the opera is a remake of the tale performed by the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater; more impressively, the new opera film comes in 3D.
Time: 7:20 p.m., Nov. 11 (Broadway Cinematheque); 7:30 p.m., Nov. 18 (Palace LUXE Cinema)
‘Faust’ (2019)
Disillusioned with life, the aged philosopher Faust calls upon Satan to help him. The devil Méphistophélès appears and strikes a bargain with the philosopher: He will give him youth and the love of the beautiful Marguerite, if Faust will hand over his soul. Gounod’s masterpiece is given the grandest of British Royal Opera House staging in David McVicar’s richly layered production.
Time: 7:20 p.m., Nov. 12 (Broadway Cinematheque); 7:30 p.m., Nov. 19 (Palace LUXE Cinema)
‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ (2018)
Donizetti’s compelling romantic drama “Lucia di Lammermoor” is an example of the bel canto school of 19th-century Italian opera. Presented by Teatro Real, the opera traces rival families, thwarted love and unhealthy obsessions in a powerful tale of an innocent woman manipulated by the men in her life.
Time: 1:30 p.m., Nov. 13 (Broadway Cinematheque); 1:30 p.m., Nov. 20 (Palace LUXE Cinema)
‘Jenůfa’ (2021)
Presented by the Berlin State Opera, “Jenůfa” explores the stigma of pregnancy out of wedlock against the backdrop of a small claustrophobic community. It is an opera in three acts by the Czech composer Leos Janácek. First performed in 1904, “Jenůfa” is an opera of overwhelming emotion. Janácek’s powerful orchestration was influenced by traditional folk music, and his vocal melodies pay close attention to the rhythm and inflections of Czech speech.
Time: 1:30 p.m., Nov. 14 (Broadway Cinematheque); 1:30 p.m., Nov. 21 (Palace LUXE Cinema)
‘The Height of the Early Tang Dynasty’ (2018)
“The Height of the Early Tang Dynasty” is a Beijing opera film produced by Shanghai Media Tech Magic D Film Studio. The film is in 3D with panoramic sound effect.
Time: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 (Palace LUXE Cinema); 7:20 p.m., Nov. 17 (Broadway Cinematheque)
PRC’s 70th anniversary gala (2019)
It is the film version of a grand gala celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 2019.
Time: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 10 (Palace LUXE Cinema); 7:20 p.m., Nov. 15 (Broadway Cinematheque)
‘Yimeng Mountain Range’ (2018)
“Yimeng Mountain Range” is a large-scale national opera produced by the Shandong Song and Dance Theater. The traditional musical elements of Shandong are combined perfectly with a modern set design. The opera vividly demonstrates the ups and downs of sensibility and profound epic implications.
Time: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 11 (Palace LUXE Cinema); 7:20 p.m., Nov. 16 (Broadway Cinematheque)
‘Rusalka’ (2017)
In this Metropolitan Opera House production by Mary Zimmerman, the classic tale of a water sprite (Kristine Opolais) yearning to become a human to find love starts as a whimsical fairytale but quickly develops into a heartbreaking tragedy. On the podium, Mark Elder leads a stirring account of Dvořák’s score, drawing a rich palette of musical colors from the Met Orchestra.
Time: 1:30 p.m., Nov. 14 (Palace LUXE Cinema); 7:20 p.m., Nov. 18 (Broadway Cinematheque)
Venue 1: Broadway Cinematheque, the MixC World, Nanshan District (南山区万象天地深圳百老汇电影中心)
Metro: Line 1 to Hi-tech Park (高新园站), Exit A
Venue 2: Palace LUXE Cinema, Raffles City, Nanshan District (南山区来福士广场深圳百丽宫影城)
Metro: Line 9 to Nanyou Station (南油站), Exit E