The film "Visitors on the Snow Mountain" has come to us in the form of an opera, and the director hopes it will appeal to a new generation of viewers.(Photo/CCTV.com)
Since its release in 1963, the film "Visitors on the Snow Mountain" has become a Chinese cinema classic. Now, the story is being told in the form of an opera, and the director hopes it will appeal to a new generation of viewers.
Set in the 1950s, with its themes of espionage, friendship, and romance and its cast of soldiers and residents in Xinjiang, "Visitors on the Snow Mountain" makes for a fascinating tale.
The film also draws extensively on Tajik ethnic musical traditions, as interpreted by late famous composer Lei Zhenbang. And it was the film's song and dance repertoire that provided the artistic bridge for director Chen Xinyi to stage this operatic version.
"The staging obviously won't be as realistic as the movie, but I have been inspired by the lyrics of the songs in retelling this story in a limited space," Chen said.
"The most important song is 'Why the Flowers Are So Red,' where red flowers symbolize romance and friendship. The Snow Mountain itself, not easy to mount on a stage, symbolizes the pure and holy spiritual world of human beings, while the eagle is a sign of the Tajik people."
Last year, when the opera toured to Xinjiang, Chen was amazed by the enthusiasm shown by the audience, especially young students.
"I know audience members my age will love the opera. But many school students also came to the theater. When the curtain was raised, and the Snow Mountain appeared, they applauded and cheered," Chen said.
"After the performance, I came out to meet the audience and signed so many autographs that my hand ached. So, you see, this story about the friendship between Han and ethnic people still echoes today."
Chen said she was in her mid-20s when she was first fascinated by the movie. And she never expected to make a stage version of it half-a-century later. Even more remarkably, the opera's music is composed by Lei Lei, daughter of the original movie's composer.
