A feast of visual art -- dance drama 'Farewell My Concubine'
Updated: 2004-09-22

The "Farewell My Concubine" was performed in the Zhejiang Great Hall of the People today. About 1500 audiences enjoyed the drama. It was a candidate play for the Wenhua Award and presented by the Shanghai Qingchun Dance Troupe.

The spectacular drama produced by the top-notch Chinese artists successfully blends the Chinese traditional dance with martial arts, acrobatic fighting and contemporary ballet in addition to the equally varied musical score and scenery.

Even if the audiences don't fully understand the dance drama, they can also enjoys the ravishing visual art from the stage design. The orchestra uses lute, xiao (a vertical bamboo flute) and serial bells and other folk musical instruments to play the cantus. The dance is the important part. The national dance combines with elements of modern dances to shows the heart-quaking love story between the Conqueror Xiangyu and his beloved concubine Lady Yu.

"It not only tells the tragedy story, but also contains human effulgence. The couple dance by Xiangyu and his concubine Lady Yu is so wonderful", a student from Zhejiang University said after she watched it.