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China won't let the Fat Lady sing China seems to be in the news these days more than it has been since government troops rolled into Tiananmen Square. Campaign contributions, regaining power over Hong Kong, technology acquisitions, a presidential visit - China's politics and role in world affairs are increasingly becoming American news, often replacing Russia's role as the villain du jour. One story that has not received as much attention is the Lincoln Center's attempts to put on the 55-act, 20-hour Chinese opera, The Peony Pavilion, here in New York. The opera was scheduled to open 7 July 1998, but now it appears that it won't be coming at all. Now you may ask - 55 act? 20 hour? And rightly so. Yes, this performance surpasses the length of any opera performed in Lincoln Center, so far as I know. Nigel Redden, the Lincoln Center's director, has said that he doesn't think the entire play has been put on at once before. The story is that Nigel Redden has been in China negotiating with Chinese authorities, who refuse to allow the actors to leave the country to put on the opera in the U.S. The following is a recreated interview between Mr. Redden and Shanghai Culture Bureau Director, Ms. Ma Bomin: REDDEN: We'd like to talk about putting on The Peony Pavilion in New York City. BOMIN: No. REDDEN: This could mean a lot of money for China - we would fund the performance. BOMIN: Okay. REDDEN: Okay? Really? BOMIN: No. REDDEN: You mean no, you need more details? Or no we can't do it. BOMIN: It might be possible. REDDEN: What would we need to do? BOMIN: Guess. REDDEN: Did you say "yes"? BOMIN: No. REDDEN: I'm getting confused here. BOMIN: No getting confused - that's a crime. REDDEN: Is it a crime to put on this opera outside of China? BOMIN: No, it is a crime to put it on in Taiwan though. REDDEN: We're not going to Taiwan. BOMIN: Why not? REDDEN: We want to put it on in New York City - at the Lincoln Center, a world-renown performance hall. BOMIN: Why did you mention Taiwan? What are you trying to hide? REDDEN: Forget about Taiwan - BOMIN: You forget about Taiwan. That would make us happy. REDDEN: Getting back to the opera - BOMIN: No. REDDEN: Stop it. BOMIN: I am - I am stopping it from leaving the country. REDDEN: Is that really what you want to do? Stop it? BOMIN: Two-faced capitalist. First you say you will, then you say you won't. Let's call the whole thing off. If you have seen Farewell My Concubine, you are familiar with the strict form and tradition of Chinese opera (by the way, if you haven't seen it, run out and rent this movie - Farewell My Concubine is an amazing look into Chinese society and art during the Cultural Revolution). This strictness is supposedly behind the government's refusal, since Chen Shi-Zheng, the Chinese-American director putting the show on apparently has some differences of opinion with government censors. He claims that he is actually putting on a more historically accurate version of the performance. Regardless, it appears that the opera will not be coming to the Lincoln Center after all. -Chris |
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