On December 3, the National Centre for the Performing Arts' first newly produced world classic opera of 2021, Puccini's "Gianni Skiki", premiered. Under the direction of Lu Jia, Music Artistic Director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the artists used original music to perfectly present the "Italian humor" of this comedy opera.
Buosso, a famous rich man in Florence, died, and his relatives, who had long coveted his huge inheritance, heard that Buosso had made a will to donate all his property to the church, and was disappointed. The heated discussion led to the key figure in this "farce", Jani Skiki. In order to fulfill his daughter's love, he used his ingenuity to set up a clever plan, and in full view of everyone, he invited a notary to pretend to be a critically ill Buoso and imitate his voice to make a new "will".
As Puccini's most vivid group portrait, the composer has given these characters a vivid soul with superb creative technique. Whether from a musical or dramatic point of view, this opera has a high challenge to the singer's singing ability and acting skills. Jani Skiki, played by baritone singer Liu Songhu at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, switches freely between two tones, splits into two roles, and the witty and humorous performance makes the audience laugh from time to time. Duan Nina, Xu Ruiyang, Geng Zhe, Yang Di, Hu Yue, and outstanding young opera performers from the National Centre for the Performing Arts Choir, such as Chai Jin, Cao Ruidong, Tong Ziyang, Chen Lei, etc., vividly shaped the group portrait of "relatives", and fully immersed the audience in the context of this "heritage farce" with excellent singing and acting interpretations.
In stark contrast to the greed and cunning of the crowd are two innocent and kind young men , Renuta played by tenor Xue Haoyu and Lauretta played by young soprano Zhang Wenqin of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Their classic singing sections "My Dear Daddy" and "Florence is like a blossoming tree" have a good performance, which is the finishing touch to the family, love and nostalgia that run through the whole play.
This edition of "Jani Skiki" is a remade band performance version after the piano version of the Small Theater in 2010, which is composed of Wu Yin, a young director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Zhang Hupeng, a stage designer, and many outstanding young designers in the courtyard, forming a creative team, which comprehensively shows the artistic creativity of the "Grand Theater People"
On the afternoon and evening of December 4, the national theatre's new puccini opera "Jani Sskiki" will continue to be staged.
Photography / Niu Xiaobei
Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Tian Wanting