NCPA’s grand new adaption of the opera epic Red Cliff was presented for the first time at the one-year-anniversary of the performing arts’ venue in 2008.

Red Cliff is part of the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms - the latter being one of the “Four Great Classical Novels” of Chinese literature. Written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, is set amidst the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms’ era. Based on the legendary tale of the battle at Red Cliff, the opera tells the story of how the two kingdoms of Shu and Wu enter into an alliance in order to defeat the kingdom of Wei.

From the stage to the big screen and back, the tale has been retold through various art forms over and over again, while never losing its charm. NCPA’s new stage interpretation with its strong cast including the country’s top performers, as well as a first-rate team for stage and costume design has won critical acclaim for its soul-stirring arias, abundant and aesthetic stage design.

Unlike traditional Beijing opera in which the props mainly include a table and two chairs, director Zhang Jigang and stage designer Gao Guangjian created an abundant set, lending from Western opera conventions. Following the idea that Peking opera should be subject to gradual development along with technical achievements, catching the “Zeitgeist”, Zhang and Gao strived to enrich the stage design by adapting visual and audio effects from the film genre to the requirements of a stage set.

The result of integrating a variety of new art forms into this production shows its effects in form of an increased interest from a young audience. Therewith the production manages to live-up to NCPA’s foremost aim of reviving Chinese stage art in a modern context and foster the understanding of the young generation towards Chinese cultural heritage.

The international community’s attention was initially drawn towards this NCPA masterpiece when broadcasted in New York’s Times Square in 2009.

Date: 4 and 5  July
Time: 7 pm. - 10 pm

Source: Hungarian State Opera
Address: 1061 Budapest Andrassy ave. 22.