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China National Opera 2024 Review: Hansel and Gretel

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(Photos sourced from CNO’s official WeChat account)

China National Opera’s “Hansel and Gretel” premiered on July 6th and 7th, 2024, presenting an intriguing paradox. As the first full-stage production of this cherished opera in China, it simultaneously feels both foreign and familiar. Sung in German and largely faithful to the original, this production might seem an unlikely candidate for cultural relevance. Yet, it is precisely this adherence to tradition that invites exploration of how a centuries-old German work can resonate with Chinese operagoers.

Illuminating Production

The production’s visual elements immediately address this question. As the curtain rose, the audience was struck by the ingenious use of steampunk aesthetics. Charming, almost Disney-like characters navigate a world of gears and steam engines, creating more than just a spectacle. Director Shi Jingfu’s efforts to craft a “cool yet not overly sweet” fairy tale world bring forth a blend of whimsical figures and an industrial backdrop, creating a powerful visual metaphor. This juxtaposition cleverly reflects a modern dilemma: how to preserve childhood wonder while embracing the rapid changes in today’s world.

However, the production does not fully align with the director’s intention in its narrative choices. Changes such as replacing the stepmother with a birth mother, removing the children’s chorus, and reducing the witch’s role shift our focus to the protagonists’ journey. While this highlights Hansel and Gretel’s development, it sacrifices some character depth and dilutes aspects of the original work’s complexity.

Musical Highlights

Despite these narrative compromises, the production excels vocally, transcending the language barrier through its performances. The singing quality of the entire cast is first-rate, particularly in exploring deep and sometimes dark themes such as growth, poverty, and danger.

Individual performances stand out for their emotional depth and character development. Wang Ye’s portrayal of the mother is notable for its passionate and intense delivery, effectively conveying the family’s hardships. Soprano Li Jingjing’s performance as Gretel highlights the transformative power of performance. Her journey from a self-conscious soprano to a vivid, compelling Gretel mirrors the character’s own path of self-discovery, drawing the audience into her growth. Yang Li’s witch offers a striking contrast, combining a cartoonishly frightening appearance with philosophical dialogue. This complexity adds depth to what might otherwise be a one-dimensional role, reflecting the nuanced nature of real life.

Under the baton of conductor Yuan Ding, the orchestral music enhances the storytelling. Ding’s interpretation of the score is primarily sweet and faithful to the original, handling the emotions with finesse. The orchestration creates a sonic world that complements the visual spectacle, allowing the audience to experience the unspoken fears, hopes, and triumphs. The string section, in particular, deserves commendation for its golden texture, capturing the opera’s central motif of cakes and candies with renewed relevance. However, the orchestra occasionally struggles with the subtler, darker elements of the tale, sometimes veering between excessively loud and weak passages, missing an opportunity to add further depth to the production.

As the final curtain fell, the audience emerged from the theatre with a sense of renewal and invigoration. This unexpected feeling prompts a compelling question: “Why does experiencing this classic opera as an adult offer a fresh perspective on life?”

China National Opera’s production of “Hansel and Gretel” provides an answer through masterful storytelling. By not only narrating Gretel’s story but also making us feel it deeply through music and performance, it demonstrates that the true power of opera lies in the act itself. It reconnects us with the courage and creativity of our younger selves while viewing these qualities through the lens of adult experience.

Through its blend of music and storytelling, China National Opera’s “Hansel and Gretel” shows how a classic work can retain its universal appeal across cultural boundaries. It offers a profound and moving experience that helps us rediscover forgotten strengths and reshapes our understanding of ourselves and our world.

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