National Ballet of China presents "The Peony Pavilion"
Company:
National Ballet of China
Director and Artistic Director Feng Ying
Director Li Liuyi
Choreographer Fei Bo
Composer, music arranger, and orchestrator Guo Wenjing
Adapted from a story by Tang Xianzu
Producer Zhao Ruheng
Stage Designer Michael Simon
Costumes Emi Wada
Lighting Designers Michael Simon and Han Jiang
Assistant to Composer Chen Xinruo
Stage Designer Assistants Sandra Draschaft and Gong Xun
Often compared to Romeo and Juliet, The Peony Pavilion is one of the most famous love stories in all of Chinese literature. A story of passion pitted against impossible odds, this mesmerizing ode to love features an eclectic and original score by Guo Wenjing that references works by Debussy, Holst, Ravel, and Prokofiev; choreography grounded in Western dance by Fei Bo; and sumptuous costumes by Academy Award–winning designer Emi Wada.
“Visually this musing on love, loss, and sexual awakening is a blend of cultural sensibilities, with the lustrous silken costumes by Japan’s Emi Wada sitting beautifully against the spare architectural geometries of Michael Simon’s sets, and Simon’s and Han Jiang’s lighting.”—Telegraph (U.K.)
“Fei Bo’s dance making is fluent and attractive, exploiting the silky skills of the principals and finding numerous pretexts to showcase the strength of soloists and ensemble.”—Seven Magazine
