Gan Opera “King Li Er” Showcases Oriental Charm in Beijing
On May 10th, 'King Li Er', a newly adapted Gan Opera presented by the Leping Gan Opera Troupe of Jiangxi Province, made a stunning debut at the Beijing Poly Theater. Featuring exquisite singing, delicate performances, and breathtaking martial arts sequences, the opera provided the audience an unforgettable audio-visual experience with its unique artistic charm.
Adapted from Shakespeare's classic play 'King Lear', Gan Opera 'King Li Er' is deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Jiangxi Province. The adaptation localizes the story, transforms it into a traditional Chinese opera, and infuses it with distinct Gan Opera characteristics, creating a 'Chinese-style interpretation of Western elements'. Throughout the performance, the audience was fully engaged with the plot and the actors' performances, experiencing a range of emotions—ranging from anger and pity to tears over the characters' misfortunes, culminating in enthusiastic applause for the actors' outstanding displays.
After the performance, Gözde Öztürk, Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in China, remarked, 'I knew this was the Chinese version of a world-renowned drama. The adaptation integrates Chinese culture so deeply within the opera, and the exploration of family values resonates strongly with the psychological identification of Chinese audiences. When the monarch feels ashamed of his own mistakes but still embraces his loyal youngest daughter upon their reunion, it was particularly touching for me.'
'Whether in China or abroad, the essence of opera lies in exploring human nature. 'King Li Er' undoubtedly succeeds in this regard. The Leping City Gan Opera Troupe uses a local art form to interpret a cultural story from a distant land, creating a wonderful collision between the two and prompting profound reflections on social realities,' commented Lu Chuan, Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Dramatists Association and a first-level editor. He added that 'King Li Er' currently represents the highest standard of the Leping City Gan Opera Troupe.
The creative team of 'King Li Er' spent three years and revised the script seven times. Wang Xiufan, the director of the play and a dramatist, reflected on the creative process, saying that the transformation from Shakespeare's 'King Lear' to Gan Opera 'King Li Er' explores the mutual integration and complementarity of Chinese and Western cultures, as well as the innovative development of this ancient genre. While Shakespeare's works are poetic, Gan Opera is mainly impressionistic. The two art forms coincide harmoniously. By preserving the spiritual essence of the original work, the screenwriter skillfully incorporated the unique singing styles and performance forms of Gan Opera, avoiding a “translationese” tone, and presented the audience with an authentic Gan Opera experience.
