ChinaDaily[971218-8]

[Chinese News]

China Daily

97 / 12 / 18 /

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1. New Year's concert to feature traditional Chinese music also
2. Guangzhou, Russian dancers close year
3. Shanxi Youth Opera to come to Beijing
4. Tibetan woman lives 'firsts'
5. What's on (Page 10, Date: 12/18/97)
6. [INLINE]
7. [INLINE] __
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New Year's concert to feature traditional Chinese music also
THE orchestra of the China National Opera & Ballet Theatre and the
China World Trade Centre have nothing in common.
Well, almost nothing.
One or two days each year, they do share something: The New Year's
Concert.
Early in 1992, the orchestra, suggested by homecoming
European-based conductor Yu Long, was the first in China to give a
New Year's concert in Beijing. Instead of performing at a concert
hall, the orchestra chose the China World Trade Centre as its
performing venue, simply because of its richly decorated festival
mood, large capacity of seats and, above all, its generous
financial support.
Ever since then, the orchestra's New Year's concert has attracted
a variety of audiences, including State leaders, celebrities and
music lovers.
This year's concert, to be held tonight and tomorrow night, will
be conducted by the orchestra's resident conductor, Gao Weichun,
known for his abundant experiences in opera.
Acclaimed as one of the best opera conductors in the country, Gao
has conducted such world-famous operas as "Madame Butterfly,"
"Carmen," "La Traviata," "Rigoletto" and "Turandot," to name just
a few.
Different from the orchestra's previous New Year's concerts that
have highlighted Viennese waltzes, this year's will expand to
Chinese music, including Peking Opera arias and festival folklores
plus Russian music and repertoires of the Strauss family.
Accompanied by the orchestra, Peking Opera master Geng Qichang
will sing a famous episode from "Taking the Tiger Mountain by
Strategy," which tells how a People's Liberation Army detachment
annihilates a group of bandits stationed on a mountain named Tiger
Mountain. It was one of China's most popular theatrical works in
the 1960s.
Pan's pipes performer Lin Wenzeng, from the Oriental Song and
Dance Ensemble, will demonstrate his fine technique in two
world-known Rumanian folk pieces "Eagle" and "Skylark."
One of the theatre's leading sopranos, Ma Mei, winner of this
year's Miami International Vocal Competition, will sing the
lyrical Chinese song "I Love You, China."
The orchestra's two performances at the China World Trade Centre
only raises the curtain on a series of New Year's concerts by
other major orchestras in Beijing.
One that you cannot ignore is the concert held at the Great Hall
of the People on December 31. Because of the date, it is exactly a
New Year's concert.
The concert is the largest of all New Year's concerts, which will
involve 260 players from three big orchestras: The China National
Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the
Beijing Symphony Orchestra.
Extra-large orchestra
It is regarded to be the official New Year's concert held by the
Beijing Municipal People's Government and is organized by Beijing
Sun Spread Co Ltd and a number of local newspapers and radio
stations.
Resident conductors of the three orchestras -- Chen Zuohuang, Chen
Xieyang and Tan Lihua -- will co-conduct this extra-large
orchestra.
Foreign and Chinese masterpieces will be on the bill, joined by
celebrated soloists.
The concert will open with a fast, warm instrumental piece "Ode to
the Red Flag," written by Lu Qiming, one of China's leading
composers.
Yu Lina will perform the household violin concerto "Butterfly
Lovers" with the orchestra.
China's most eminent tenor, Warren Mok, will display his
shimmering voice quality in the Chinese song "My Country, My
Motherland." Again, he is expected to bring the house down when he
sings "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's "Turandot." His portrayal of
Calaf with the China National Opera & Ballet Theatra last month in
Beijing is still fresh in the memories of many people.
The orchestra will also perform excerpts from Khachaturian's
"Spartacus," the fourth movement of Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No 4"
and Respighi's "The Pines in Rome."
The only challenge of the performance, said Chen Zuohuang from the
China National Symphony Orchestra, is to make the three orchestras
-- each with its own sound -- become one.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 12/18/97_
_Author: Mao Jingbo_
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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Guangzhou, Russian dancers close year
BALLET dancers from Guangzhou, along with Russian stars who will
be performing this month across the country, are bound to add a
final glitter to the spectacular 1997 Year of Opera & Ballet which
has seen a considerable number of art troupes putting their best
on the country's stages.
All's well that ends well, and the two ballet troupes closing the
events of this year will certainly wind the year up in grand
style.
One is the Guangzhou Ballet Ensemble, known for its high-quality
dancers selected from major ballet troupes in China; the other,
the Russian All-Star Ballet, headed by the world-renowned Russian
ballet dancer Nadezhda Pavlova.
Founded in 1994 by Zhang Dandan, a former leading ballerina from
the old Central Ballet Troupe in Beijing, the Guangzhou Ballet
Ensemble caught immediate attention in the country for its
innovative contract system which attracts fine dancers. Not only
are the dancers paid better than in their previous troupes, but
also they get more chances to perform because annual performance
schedules are more effectively planned.
This time, the troupe will perform its newly commissioned work
"Black Phoenix" as well as the world-famous "La Traviata."
The four-act "Black Phoenix" is adapted from a legend illustrated
in some of the frescoes of the Dunhuang Caves in Northwest China's
Gansu Province, concerning a mythical bird, a young man and an
emperor. The story touches upon a theme of worldwide concern --
protection of the environment. The ballet draws on the rich
traditions of Chinese folk and court dances. Many of the dances
promise to become part of the standard classical dance repertoire.
The music is composed by Du Minxin from the Central Conservatory
of Music. Two of his works are the dance dramas "The Mermaid" and
"The Red Detachment of Women," and he has composed a number of
symphonies as well. The Russian-influenced composer excels in
lyrical and dramatic expression.
"Black Phoenix" will be danced at the Beijing Beizhan Theatre
December 18 and 19.
December 21-22, the troupe will perform the tragic love story "La
Traviata."
According to artistic director Zhang Dandan, the troupe's "La
Traviata" is both sumptuous and tragic. It is choreographed by
world-famous dancer/choreographer/director Andre Prokovsky. The
troupe spent $50,000 for the copyright. The music is composed and
rearranged by Wu Daidun from the ensemble.
Violetta is danced by Zhang Dandan, Tong Shusheng and Guo Fei, and
Alfredo by Zou Gang, Chao Lemeng and Su Hong. Most of them are
winners of national and international competitions.
With Christmas, New Year and Chinese Spring Festival approaching,
the first China tour of the Russian All-Star Ballet will draw
enthusiastic audiences in major Chinese cities, including Beijing,
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Tianjin, Suzhou, Jinan and
Shanghai.
Their tour will start in Beijing where they are going to perform
December 24-25 at the Beijing Beizhan Theatre. Their tour will end
on January 13 in Shanghai.
The dancers will present excerpts from "Swan Lake," "The
Nutcracker," "Giselle," "Sleeping Beauty," "Sylvia," "Don
Quixote," "Remonda" and many other pieces.
Nadezhda Pavlova, born in 1955, has been a leading ballerina with
the Bolshoi Theatre since 1975. She is known throughout the world
for her unique lightness, grace, poetry and spirituality. The
other dancers have all won high artistic honours in their country.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 12/18/97_
_Author: Mao Mao_
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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Shanxi Youth Opera to come to Beijing
THE Shanxi Youth Yanju Opera Theatre is coming to Beijing to give
two performances -- a rare opportunity for theatre-goers to get to
know an unfamiliar theatrical form.
Yanju, known as Beilu Bangzi, is one of the major branches of
Bangzi in China's Hebei, Henan and Shanxi provinces, where it is
immensely popular.
Yanju, which can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644),
is rich in varieties of genres, performers and repertoires. It
lost ground in the 1930s and 1940s during the War of Resistance
Against Japan.
The Shanxi Youth Yanju Opera Theatre was founded in 1976 by a
group of art school students. Since then, the theatre gives more
than 300 performances each year, winning high acclaim in Shanxi
Province. The theatre seldom performs outside its birthplace,
perhaps fearing that unfamiliar audiences may have difficulty in
understanding the librettos.
In fact, most of its repertoires are love stories. And quite
similar to Peking Opera, Yanju is sung by male and female roles
with painted faces. In terms of music, Yanju uses high pitches
frequently to enhance dramatic effect.
On the Beijing tour, the theatre will perform arias from "Bloody
Fingerprint," "Killing in the Temple" and "Cai Wenji Returns to
the Han Dynasty" next Tuesday at the People's Theatre. On the
following night, it will perform "Wang Baochuan," a love story
between two characters, one poor and one rich.
Jia Fentao, 30, is the theatre's lead performer and the winner of
many local theatrical prizes.
Her voice quality, similar to that of a coloratura soprano, is
resonant and lucid. She is particularly good at singing
sentimental and dramatic roles.
Jia is said to be a promising nominee for next year's "Plum Flower
Prize," the highest national prize in the performing arts given by
the Ministry of Culture. (CD News)
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_Date: 12/18/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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Tibetan woman lives 'firsts'
SOINAM Bemo's story is like a fairytale, but it is true.
This 54-year-old Tibetan woman embraces many firsts in her life.
The child of a Tibetan noble family in Kangding, Sichuan Province,
she went to the first primary school in Lhasa run by the People's
Liberation Army.
"In Tibet at that time, girls were seldom permitted to go to
school. But my father was open-minded and sent us to study," said
Soinam.
Soinam's father, married to a Lhasa woman from a Tibetan
aristocratic family that was in decline, believed that in New
China his children, including his daughters, could get a better
education.
Besides free education, the school offered clothes and money to
Tibetan children.
Soinam said: "Apart from Tibetan language, which was our main
course, we took drawing, music and physical education."
She liked singing and dancing in her childhood. Thanks to her
lively nature and her strapping body, a legacy of the plateau
climate, she was selected as a member of the first Tibetan women's
basketball team in 1958.
In that year, the team, representing the PLA garrison stationed in
the Tibet Autonomous Region, took part in the second all-China
army sports meet in Beijing.
At age 15, Soinam took her first train ride when she and her
teammates went to the country's capital.
"But the most unforgettable part of it all was the enthusiasm and
care Beijingers showered on us," said Soinam.
"Welcome, Tibetan friends!" the crowds hailed them when they
entered the sports ground.
Luck fell to her again in 1959. That year the Tibetan basketball
team, representing the Tibet Autonomous Region, participated in
the first national sports games in China.
"At that games, I presented flowers to Premier Zhou Enlai on
behalf of the Tibet Autonomous Region team," said Soinam, her eyes
shining with joy.
Soinam became a national athlete after this sports meet. "This was
a turning point in my life," she said.
She began her life as a professional athlete, going through
training and playing matches around the country.
According to the old customs of Tibet, it is an offence against
decency for women to expose any part of their bodies other than
their faces. The cold plateau weather did not permit them to do so
either.
So in the beginning the Tibetan young women were reluctant to take
off their outer clothes to train, even in the summer.
But later, the hot weather "forced" them to become practical. They
gradually got used to playing basketball in shorts.
It is amusing that they made an exhibition of themselves in Lhasa.
On one occasion, they went back to Lhasa and put on an exhibition
match. In the middle of the match the players cast off shirts and
trousers out of habit. Suddenly they found the spectators leaving
the sports ground.
"What's up?" the players wondered.
An elder Tibetan responded angrily: "Tibetan young women never
dress like that."
In the end, the young women agreed to finish the match in long
clothes, she recalled.
Tibet has now opened up to the outside world along with the other
regions in China, and Tibetans have become more willing to accept
seemingly unusual things. Young women there no longer shy away
from shorts, Soinam said.
After 14 years on the sports ground, Soinam was employed by Tibet
Movie Co and became one of the first Tibetan film dubbers.
She loved the job and dubbed parts in 100 movies, including Boy
Zhang in "Little Soldier Zhang Ga" and Boy Chunya in "Shining Red
Stars."
"Very often, I overhear people on the street speaking highly of my
dubbing," she said. "Many years later, Balsang, a regional
government official, asked where the person was who dubbed the
voice of Boy Zhang in 'Little Soldier Zhang Ga.'"
When working as a dubber, she met Zhaxi Nyima, one of the first
Tibetan photojournalists, who works in Beijing. They were soon
married.
Seven years after their marriage, Soinam was transferred to work
in Beijing. After a strict examination, she became a teacher of
Tibetan in the China National Centre for Tibetan Studies.
The students appreciate her pure Lhasa accent.
Zhaxi Nyima, now deputy editor-in-chief of Pictorial for
Nationalities, is still a boy in Soinam's eyes.
"Zhaxi is a good singer and loves to drink," said Soinam. "He
talks little. After a few cups, however, he becomes excited and
often sings. At that point, I can't help dancing."
Their only daughter, Deqin Yamzhoin, inheriting her family's
"first" tradition, was the first Tibetan flight attendant to join
Air China. Deqin is learning English, Korean and Japanese in her
spare time to provide good service for foreign passengers.
"I am proud of Deqin. My only regret is that she can't write
Tibetan. I must help her master speaking and writing our mother
tongue," said Soinam, who keeps more than a dozen of her daugher's
photos in her purse and carries it with her every day.
Soinam's deep affection for Tibetan culture has also influenced
the two children she adopted from her sisters. After studying in
senior high school in Beijing, they went back to Lhasa to finish
their college education and are dedicating themselves to the
development of the Tibet Autonomous Region, she said.
Soinam is happy. So are more and more Tibetans, she said.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 12/18/97_
_Author: He Xiangyan_
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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What's on (Page 10, Date: 12/18/97)
CONCERTS
Symphonic concerts -- Two symphonic concerts, "Sentiment from Silk
and Bamboo," will feature concerto works for traditional Chinese
music instruments.
The concertos incorporate traditional Chinese solo instruments
into a Western-style symphonic orchestra, offering concert-goers a
unique experience in the integration of East and West.
The programme will cover "Dragons Fly and Tigers Jump (Chinese
percussion instruments)" by soloist Li Congnong, "Travel Across
Qinchuan (banhu)" by soloist Jiang Kemei, "Xiang Yu Taking Off His
Armour (pipa)" by soloist Zhang Yongyan, "A Tale of Bao Gong
(suona)" by soloist Feng Xiaoquan, "The God of Luo River (zheng)"
by soloist Lin Ling and "Diao Chan, an Ancient Beauty (bamboo
flute)" by soloist Zeng Shaobin.
The concert will be accompanied by the National Opera and Ballet
Theatre of China.
Time: 7:30 pm, January 10
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District
Time: 7:30 pm January 17
Place: Century Theatre, Nanliangmaqiaolu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 6466-4810
Selected songs -- A series of concerts will be held.
Folk songs include "On the Golden Hill of Beijing," "Emotional
Earth," "The Sun Rises on the Prairie," "Ode Song," "Toast Song,"
"On the Songhua River" and "Sing while Beating the Drum."
Time: 7:30 pm, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 6605-5812
Tea and jazz -- The Wide Angle Jazz Band will perform on the
second floor of Sanwei Bookstore.
Audience members can enjoy hot tea, cold beer and cool jazz at the
teahouse.
Time: 9-11 pm, every Friday.
Saturday night at Sanwei Bookstore is a night for Chinese folk
music. Enchanting Chinese melodies will flow from the Chinese
dulcimer, zither and bamboo flute.
Time: 8:30-10:30 pm, every Saturday
Place: Sanwei Bookstore, 60 Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District,
across the street from Cultural Palace of Nationalities.
Tel: 6601-3204
STAGE
Russian ballet -- Russian ballet dancer Nadezda Pavlova and the
Russian All-Star Ballet will start their first China tour.
Pavlova is joined by leading dancers from the Ukraine National
Opera and Ballet Theatre, Kremlin Ballet Theatre and Moscow
Stanislavski Music Theatre.
They will perform "The Swan Lake," "The Flames of Paris," "Ghost
Ball," "Legend of Love," "Sylvia" and "Don Quixote" first in
Beijng and then a dozen more cities including Guangzhou, Shenzhen,
Suzhou, Zhuhai and Jinan during the Christmas season and the
Chinese Spring Festival holidays.
Time: 7:15 pm, December 24-25
Place: Beizhan Theatre, 135 Xiwai Dajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 6500-8487
Peek-in opera -- Located in an ornate former temple, and painted
and draped in a manner fit for royalty, Zhengyici Theatre may be
worth a visit just for a look inside.
Better yet, stick around until the show gets rolling -- live
Peking Opera packaged in short programmes for foreign audiences.
Each act includes an explanation written in English, similar to
the announcements.
You'll see at least one lively acrobatic or fighting scene. There
are snacks, tea and ice cream during intermission.
Admission: 150 yuan
Place: 220 Xiheyan Dajie, Xuanwu District (behind Hepingmen Roast
Duck Restaurant)
Time: 7:15 pm, daily
Tel: 6303-6233, 6303-6234.
Original opera -- The Liyuan Theatre at Qianmen Hotel is
presenting Peking Opera, original style. The theatre has revived
the ambience of old Beijing by setting up Ming-style tables, so
guests can sample snacks during performances.
The performers come from the Beijing Peking Opera Theatre.
Time: 7:30 pm, nightly
Place: Qianmen Hotel, 175 Yong'anlu, Xuanwu District
Tel: 6301-6688 ext 8986
EXHIBITIONS
Joint art show -- A joint exhibition of selected modern Chinese
paintings is running at the Wanfung Art Gallery.
On display are more than 40 pieces of Chinese paintings by 30
young and middle-aged artists who have adopted new approaches to
traditional Chinese painting.
Time: 9 am-6pm, until December 25.
Place: Wanfung Art Gallery, 136 Nanchizi Dajie, Dongcheng
District, Beijing.
Tel: 6512-7338.
Caricature show -- The Second Asian Caricature Tour Exhibition has
come to Beijing.
On display are 90 works by 11 artists from nine Asian countries.
From different angles, the artists mean to raise the public
awareness of disturbing issues including world population growth.
The event is organized by the China International Exhibition
Exchange Agency.
Time: 9 am-5 pm, through Sunday
Place: 111 Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 6403-1631, 6401-5552
Abstract art -- More than 200 abstract oil paintings are on show
at the J. B. Studio on the east side of the embassy area.
Time: 9 am-5 pm, daily
Place: J. B. Studio, Guanghua Xili, Jianwai Dajie, Chaoyang
District
Tel: 6594-0161
ACROBATICS
Acrobatics -- The China Acrobatic Troupe is juggling, cycling and
tumbling every night at Chaoyang Theatre.
The 46-year-old troupe, one of the best in the country, has toured
more than 60 countries and won international competition awards.
The company's repertoire includes tightrope walking, martial arts
and traditional Chinese magic tricks.
Time: 7:15 pm, daily.
Place: Chaoyang Theatre, 36 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 6507-2421
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_Date: 12/18/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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Updated on September 24, 1997

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_[1]The 15th Party Congress_

_[2]Sep. 12 - Sep.18, 1997_

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[3][LINK] _[4]General Secretary Jiang Zemin's
Report to the 15th Party Congress_
[5][LINK] _[6]New Party Leadership elected,
Top Leaders' Profiles_
[7][LINK] _[8]Communique of 15th CPC Central
Committee's First Plenum_

[INLINE]

Feedback: [9]cd...@chinadaily.net

_Copyright by CBnet ®, China Daily Information_

References

1. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtg124.html
2. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtg124.html
3. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/report.html
4. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/report.html
5. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb46.html
6. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb46.html
7. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb09.html
8. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb09.html
9. mailto:cd...@chinadaily.net

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[1][LINK]

[2][LINK]

[3][LINK]

[4][LINK]

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_Chinese, U.S. Presidents Hold Press Conference _

WASHINGTON, October 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Jiang
Zemin and U.S. President Bill Clinton have agreed that China
and the United States should strengthen cooperation in
building a strategic partnership oriented toward the 21st
century, with a view to promoting world peace and
development.
This was stated by Jiang during a joint press conference by
the two presidents Wednesday.
The two presidents also shared the view of holding regular
visits between the two countries' heads of state,
facilitating a Washington-Beijing presidential communications
link, triggering the mechanism of a regular exchange of
visits by foreign ministers and other cabinet officials, as
well as strengthening cooperation in economic, scientific and
technological, cultural, educational fields and in law
enforcement.
Jiang described his talks with Clinton as "constructive and
fruitful," and believed that his ongoing visit could attain
the goal of enhancing mutual understanding, broadening common
ground, developing cooperation and building the future.
The two presidents also agreed to handle bilateral relations
and differences in line with the principles of mutual
respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs,
equality and mutual benefit, and seeking common ground while
putting aside differences.
Clinton said that Jiang's visit to the United States gave
them the opportunity and the responsibility to build a future
that is more secure, more peaceful, more prosperous for both
peoples.
The two countries share a profound interest in a stable,
prosperous and open Asia, and a strong interest in stopping
the spread of weapons of mass destruction and other
sophisticated weaponry, Clinton said.
He said he agreed to move ahead with the U.S.-China agreement
for cooperation concerning the peaceful use of nuclear
energy.
In both China and the United States, trade has been a
critical catalyst for growth, and China is the fastest
growing market in the world for America's goods and services,
Clinton said. He also said the United States would "do
everything possible to bring China into the World Trade
Organization."
Referring to the Taiwan issue, Jiang said that China wishes
to effect the peaceful reunification of the motherland by
means of implementing Deng Xiaoping's concept of "one
country, two systems."
But China is not committed to giving up the use of force in
this regard, he said, adding that this does not target the
Taiwan compatriots, but direct against the foreign force
interfering in Taiwan affairs and against the scheme that
would attempt to separate Taiwan from China.
On the human rights issue, Jiang said the current world is a
rich and diverse one, and concepts on democracy and human
rights and on freedoms are relative and specific ones.
Therefore, they should be determined by the specific national
situation of different countries.

References

1. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/report.htm
2. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/d1-jiang_j15.htm
3. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/comment.htm
4. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/backgrnd.htm

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