Debra Li

    debra_lidan@163.com

    THE Shenzhen Grand Theater will present 13 different shows between September and January, offering a colorful collection of shows, including a chorus, classical music, dramas, dances, vocal concerts and traditional Chinese operas.

    “Entering its 18th year, the Shenzhen Grand Theater Arts Festival believes in balancing its repertoire and entertainment with shows of good taste,” said Zhu Yedi, spokeswoman of the theater.

    Thanks to government subsidies, some tickets are as cheap as 100 yuan (US$16.2).

    Opening the season will be a concert by the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, one of China’s top orchestras, under the baton of renowned conductor Tan Lihua. A frequent guest at many Chinese and international concert halls who has conducted a range of distinguished orchestras in Russia, the United States and many European countries, Tan has released several classical music CDs with EMI. Collaborating on the show will be dramatic baritone Zhang Yalun, tenor Han Peng, baritone Zhang Dawei and soprano You Hongfei. All four have won awards at prestigious singing competitions.

    Loved by both pop and classical music fans, jazz pianist and composer Joja Wendt will present his well-received concert “Around the World on 88 Keys.”

    Born in 1964 in Hamburg, Germany, the artist is known for his versatile repertoire. His selections are not based on style or epoch, but on quality and uniqueness. His concert will take the audience on a virtuoso and humorous journey, seasoned with amusing anecdotes, artistic interludes and illustrative presentations. The audience will hear “Flight of the Bumble Bee,” “Carmen” and compositions by the artist himself.

    Classical music fans will enjoy the violin and piano duo of Sheng Zhongguo and his wife, Seta Hiroko. Best known for his interpretation of “The Butterfly Lovers,” Sheng is an outstanding violinist. He and his wife, who performed a Mozart piano concerto with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra at 13, will bring the audience on a classical music tour.

    Andrew Young, a saxophonist from Britain, will perform Western music, Chinese folk songs and Mandopops with his seven-member band. They will perform “Blue and White Porcelain,” originally by Jay Chou, among others.

    In addition to a choral concert by The China People’s Armed Police Male Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, vocal fans won’t want to miss a solo concert by Liao Changyong, who is perhaps China’s most distinguished classical music baritone today. Between 1996 and 1997, he won first prizes at the 41st French International Toulouse Singing Competition, the Placido Domingo World Opera Competition and the Queen Songja International Music Competition. These are the three highest honors in their fields. Even Placido Domingo praised Liao as a “great young singer.”

    Younger audience members may enjoy watching the Chinese version of “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by Tian Qinxin. With bicycles, sunglasses and hip-hop, the story of the star-crossed lovers will resonate with young Chinese audiences, even though it will still deliver the spirit of William Shakespeare. Popular TV actors Li Guangjie and Yin Tao will appear as Romeo and Juliet in this version. In a fictitious mainland city, their families are locked in a feud that divides them into two opposing camps.

    Another drama, based on Xin Yiwu’s popular novel that spawned a 2013 movie “So Young” is also appropriate for young audiences. The campus romance will surely resonate with people whose memories of their college days are still fresh.

    It seems that Chinese audiences never have enough of “Swan Lake.” This year, the 20-year-old St. Petersburg Ballet Theater will present this classic ballet show, featuring stars such as Irina Kolesnikova and Anna Podlesnaya.

    Ballet Teatro Espanol de Rafael Aguilar will present the flamenco dance show “Carmen.” This fascinating dance drama fuses the expressionism of modern ballet with traditional Spanish flamenco. It’s about the love and hatred between the gypsy girl Carmen and Corporal Don Jose. Folk Spanish musical elements such as the small hand drum and ballads will be included.

    Another dance show by the name of “Dances of the World” will give a parade of can-can, tango, flamenco, waltz, belly dance and many other dances unique to various regions of the world.

    There is also a show for Chinese culture fans. Anqing Huangmei Opera Theater from Anhui Province, where the art form originated, will perform a show based on a real story that happened in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). With exaggerated, humorous verbal and body languages, the show tells the story of how two neighbors solve their land disputes on friendly terms and advocate the spirit of tolerance.

    All shows will be staged at the Shenzhen Grand Theater, starting at 8 p.m.

SCHEDULE

    Sept. 12 Beijing Symphony Orchestra concert

    Sept. 28 “Around the World on 88 Keys” concert

    Oct. 10 Violin and piano duo

    Oct. 17 Andrew Young and his band live concert

    Oct. 25 Male chorus concert

    Nov. 7-8 “So Young” drama

    Nov. 12-18 Huangmei opera show

    Dec. 6-7 Chinese version of “Romeo and Juliet”

    Dec. 13-14 “Swan Lake”

    Dec. 24 Liao Changyong’s vocal concert

    Dec. 26-27 “Carmen” flamenco dance drama

    Dec. 31 New Year’s concert

    Jan. 16-17 “Dances of the World”