Land of Smiles hides tragedy of romance
The romance of a Chinese prince and an Austrian lady will be told by Chinese and foreign artists, as Shanghai Opera House stages Franz Lehar’s operetta “Das Land des Lachelns” (The Land of Smiles) at Shanghai Oriental Arts Center until November 29.
The new co-production by Shanghai Opera House and Budapest Palace of the Arts, starring Chinese tenor Shi Yijie and Armenian soprano Karine Babajanyan, has many Chinese elements. Delicate Chinese shadow-play and Chinese court dances, as well as traditional Chinese costumes and architecture, were carefully added by the creative teams of both sides.
Playing Chinese Prince Sou-Chong is like a dream come true for Shi, who has been attracted by the role since college.
“Sou is one of the very limited Chinese roles in Western operas,” Shi said. “Yet, the Chinese part of many versions of The Land of Smiles was not that Chinese. I have always dreamt that there would be a Chinese-produced version in which I could sing the beautiful arias of Sou. And now, here I am.”
There was actually a Chinese prince in history who worked as Chinese ambassador to Vienna in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), but the romance part was mere fiction. After falling in love with Sou, Viennese girl Lisa chased her love to China, yet the prince was forced to marry Manchu girls according to the royal rules.
It is the second time for soprano Babajanyan, known for her interpretation in Puccini, to sing a Lehar work. She is very excited about collaborating with a Chinese tenor in “The Land of Smiles”.
“I think I have already fallen in love with the Chinese prince Shi, with our voices perfectly matching,” said Babajanyan. “I told him that he must collaborate with me in his first Puccini’s work.”
As a fan of Chinese culture, Babajanyan bought herself a qipao, which she plans to wear on her Chinese-style birthday party this Saturday back home.
Hungarian conductor Stefan Soltesz will conduct the performance in Shanghai this time, while Chinese conductor Xu Zhong will take the position when the new production has its Hungary premiere next February.
Date: till November 29, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Arts Center
Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd.
Tickets: 80-580 yuan
Tel: 6854-1234
Chinese tenor plays Chinese prince Sou-Chong in "The Land of Smiles".
