A thrilling selection of splendid performances is taking the stage in late March in Guangzhou, bringing you a musical feast. Here is your guide to some of the best shows.
Musical "I Am What I Am"
"I Am What I Am" is adapted from the Chinese animated film of the same name. It focuses on the thousand-year-old lion dance culture and the local customs of the Lingnan Region, telling the inspiring story of a small-town youth who bravely pursues his dream and learns the art of lion dancing. The music design centers around the drumbeats of the lion dance, which not only symbolizes traditional lion dance music but also serves as an emotional awakening.
The poster of the Musical "I Am What I Am" (Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)
The awe-inspiring lion dance performance on the stage (Photo: Guangzhou Opera House)
Time: March 22-23, 2025 (Saturday-Sunday) at 14:30 & 19:30
Address: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House (广州大剧院歌剧厅)
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"Ingenuity and Ardency" – Lü Jia & NCPA Orchestra
The China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra (China NCPA Orchestra) will join forces with top-tier Chinese creators to make a surprise appearance in Guangzhou. They will deliver passionate performances of four romantic masterpieces: Liszt's "Piano Concerto No. 1," Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde Prelude and Liebestod," Scriabin's "Poem of Ecstasy," and Yao Chen's "Garden Making." These works bring together the romantic spirits from both the East and the West, offering you an exhilarating and profound musical journey.
The poster of "Ingenuity and Ardency" (photo: Musical Season)
Time: 19:30, March 27, 2025 (Thursday)
Location: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House (广州大剧院歌剧厅)
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Gustav Kuhn's musical performance
Renowned Austrian conductor Gustav Kuhn will make his debut with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, performing Anton Bruckner's "Symphony No. 8 in C minor, WAB 108 (1890 version)," also known as "Bruckner's Eighth."
Before the concert officially begins, Kuhn will offer his unique insights, providing an in-depth interpretation of this monumental work, which is the longest and most grandly orchestrated piece in Bruckner's symphonic repertoire.
The poster of Gustav Kuhn's musical performance (Photo: Xinghai Concert Hall)
Time: 20:00, March 22, 2025 (Saturday)
Venue: Xinghai Concert Hall (星海音乐厅)
Address: No. 33 Qingbo Road, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市二沙岛晴波路33号)
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Concert "Castle in the Sky"
The enchanting concert of Hayao Miyazaki and Joe Hisaishi's animated film masterpiece "Castle in the Sky" will make a stunning appearance in Guangdong. The Shenzhen City Philharmonic Orchestra will present a symphonic performance for all fans of Miyazaki and Hisaishi.
This concert will offer a unique musical feast, allowing the audience to experience a new dimension of interpretation through the profound expressions in Miyazaki's film.
The poster of "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" (Photo: Ticketing Butler of Guangzhou Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall)
Time: 16:00, March 30, 2025 (Sunday)
Venue: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂)
Address: No. 259 Dongfeng Zhong Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区东风中路259号)
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Immersive and site-specific musical "King's Table"
The immersive and site-specific musical "King's Table" is set in the early 19th century, when the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway dispatched a special task force to Bell Island, which had long been occupied by the Ghost King, to carry out a mission of takeover.
The musical unfolds a series of stories that take place on the island. It breaks away from the traditional proscenium stage format, presenting this Nordic myth-inspired adventure tale with an all-new cast.
The poster of King's Table (Photo: Canton Tower Theater)
The fantasy stage of King's Table. (Photo: School of Popular Music, Xinghai Conservatory of Music)
Time: March 21 - April 26, 2025
Venue: Canton Tower Theatre New Space (广州塔剧场新空间)
Add.: 1st Floor, No. 108-1, Guangzhou Tower Road, Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou (广州市珠海区广州塔路8号首层108-1)
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Classical mythological epic "Pingtan Impression"
The classical mythological epic "Pingtan Impression," which is imbued with a strong Eastern cultural hue, is directed by the world-renowned dance artist Yang Liping. The performance weaves a fantastical mythological narrative that spans over seven thousand years of historical and cultural heritage, telling the story of Pingtan Island, a mysterious overseas fairyland under the protection of Mazu (the sea goddess in Chinese folk religion).
In the show, you will see traditional folk cultures such as Mazu worship and the culture of the City God, as well as the essence of intangible cultural heritage, including deity processions, face-changing, and Nu opera.
The poster of Pingtan Impression (Photo: Guangdong Friendship Theater)
The dreamlike performance of the dancer in Pingtan Impression. (Photo: Guangdong Friendship Theatre)
The image of the sea goddess Mazu (Photo: Guangdong Friendship Theater)
Time: 19:30, March 28, 2025 (Friday);19:30, March 29, 2025 (Saturday)
Venue: Guangdong Provincial Friendship Theatre (广东省友谊剧院)
Address: No. 696 Renmin Bei Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区人民北路696号)
Scan the QR code below to buy tickets.
Author | Wang Yulin (intern), Liu Lingzhi
Editor | James, Shen He
