As 2024 draws to a close, the Guangzhou Opera House's 2025 New Year Season is going to be a major event on the city's festival calendar, offering various performances, including dance dramas, mime performances, classical guitar solos, and symphonies.
The large-scale dance drama "The Flowers of War" uses dance to outline the characters of the "Thirteen Women," bringing to life the forgotten women of history before your eyes. "Odes to Heroes," a major work of the Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre, carries the excellent traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage—Yingge Dance, combining stage lighting, costumes, facial makeup, and music to immerse the audience. "Five Stars Rising in the East" is inspired by an arm protector—a piece of Sichuan embroidery from the Han Dynasty to the Wei and Jin Dynasties in China unearthed in Xinjiang, focusing on the character traits of ordinary people to convey the true emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness to the audience.
Stage photo of the large-scale dance drama "The Flowers of War"
Stage photo of "Odes to Heroes"
Stage photo of "Five Stars Rising in the East"
In addition, "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker" are world-renowned ballets that are essential traditional programs for the New Year. The touching melodies composed by Tchaikovsky not only maintain the elegance of traditional ballet music, but also integrate symphony and classical dance, making them highly dramatic and full of plot.
Stage photo of "Swan Lake"
Stage photo of "The Nutcracker"
The live mime performance "House of Mask & Mime" includes seven short plays, each of which tells a story through different masks and innovative performance techniques, allowing audiences of all ages to easily understand and enjoy these vivid plots.
Stage photo of the live mime performance "House of Mask & Mime"
Top classical Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang will bring her "Candlelit" classical guitar recital back to Guangzhou, presenting a classical guitar recital inspired by winter, Christmas, and the New Year. Additionally, "Notre-Dame de Paris, (French name)" will return to Guangzhou. This musical, adapted from the immortal masterpiece of French literary giant Victor Hugo, with lyrics by top European and American talent Luc Plamondon and music by Richard Cocciante, will once again sing the legend of the cathedral era for you.
Top classical Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang
Stage photo of "Notre-Dame de Paris"
What's more, international conductor Paavo Järvi and young cellist Julia Hagen are going to join the London Philharmonic Orchestra to present two consecutive nights of musical performances for Guangzhou audiences at the turn of the year. The repertoire is centered around the iconic national styles of countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia, including famous pieces like "Enigma Variations," "Symphony No. 4 in F minor," "The Bartered Bride,""Oberon," "Cello Concerto in B minor," and "Cello Concerto in C minor" providing the audience with a rich auditory feast.
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Schedule of Guangzhou Opera House's 2025 New Year Season
Large-scale dance drama "The Flowers of War"
—Thirteen women from the Qinhuai River (a tributary of the Yangtze in China) perform a thrilling legend with their lives.
Date: December 10-11, 2024
Large-scale dance drama "Odes to Heroes"
—A latest masterpiece from Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre, highlighting the majestic and awe-inspiring Yingge Dance.
Date: December 14-15, 2024
Dance drama"Five Stars Rising in the East"
—A glittering program at the 2023 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, depicting a vivid and fragrant Eastern legend through embroidery.
Date: December 21-22, 2024
Ballet "Swan Lake" by the National Model Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
—A ballet troupe and symphony orchestra with over a hundred performers present a must-see ballet classic in a lifetime.
Date: December 23, 2024
Ballet "The Nutcracker" by the National Model Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
—A beautiful interpretation of a dreamy fairy tale classic by a renowned Russian troupe, accompanied by a symphony orchestra on Christmas Eve.
Date: December 24, 2024
"House of Mask & Mime"
—A small theatre drama full of innovation and ingenuity, once performed at the Festival d'Avignon in France.
Date: December 25-26, 2024
Original French Musical "Notre-Dame de Paris"
— The legendary "King of French Musicals" returns with charm.
Date: December 27-29, 2024
Pure Series "Candlelit" Classical Guitar Recital by Xuefei Yang
—Feel the beauty of winter in the warm tones of the guitar.
Date: December 27, 2024
Guangzhou New Year's Concert 2025
Paavo Järvi, Julia Hagen, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra
—A feast of world ethnic music.
Date: December 30-31, 2024
Author | Liu Lingzhi, Wang Yulin (intern)
Editor | James, Shen He
Photo | Guangzhou Opera House
