Peking opera Red Cliff will embark on its journey West to European audiences this week. Produced by China's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Red Cliff will premiere from June 29 to July 10 at Burgtheater (the Austrian National Theatre in Vienna),  the Hungarian State Opera House, and Prague State Opera in Czech.

In 2009, the opera Red Cliff went abroad for the first time, appearing in the form of a video at Time Square's famous big screen in New York. This time around, foreign audiences will experience a live stage performance, with the help of the traveling 150- member team of artists and crew. Renowned Peking opera singers Yu Kuizhi, Li Shengsu and Li Hongtu alongside novices Zhang Jianfeng and Dou Xiaoxuan will make the trip overseas.

"Red Cliff embodies both traditional Chinese culture and modern techniques," said Zhang Jigang, general director of the opera. "Many people have devoted themselves to this opera, and I believe it will impress foreign audiences," he said. Zhang's confidence comes with good reason, considering the success Red Cliff has garnered in China in recent years.

Domestic success 

Peking opera Red Cliff was produced in 2008 for the first anniversary of the establishment of NCPA. It premiered that year in December, staging over 10 shows consecutively, each reaching full capacity.

Apart from the exquisite performing skills of the artists, Red Cliff's success lies in its stage innovation, a set design that caters to modern aesthetic tastes while retaining the artistic essence of Peking opera.

Based on the story of the Battle of Red Cliff, acclaimed in Chinese history as a David and Goliath type battle during the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280), the Peking opera rendition of Red Cliff uses modern techniques to represent significant scenes of the battle: Ten thousand arrows being shot at once, roaring flames on the cliff, and clashes with torn battleships on the Yangtze River.

"Red Cliff is like a blockbuster in the realm of Peking opera," said cultural critic Ma Weidu. It not only sustains the tradition of Peking opera, but it also artistically incorporates new elements, he said.

Within four years since it premiere in 2008, Red Cliff has staged 58 sessions with over 100,000 performances, the highest among the 20 or so self-produced plays by NCPA, becoming one of its most popular classics. Setting itself apart from Peking operas that mainly attract middle-aged groups, Red Cliff also receives positive responses from a younger demographic.

In 2009 and 2010, NCPA produced its youth and children's version of Red Cliff, not only soliciting audiences among this age bracket, but also reigniting young people's interest in the classics.

European adjustments

To make it easier to perform on tour and more comprehensive for foreign audiences, preparation work for Red Cliff's European debut began a year ago, according to Zhang Jigang. The length of the screenplay was shortened by 20 minutes to condense the storyline. The music and rhymes were also edited.

"The music for the opera will be replaced by a combination of folk music and Peking opera music, instead of the orchestra from before," said Zhu Shaoyu, Red Cliff composer. Traditional Chinese music instruments including the erhu, lute and drum will be used to complement each other, underscoring Chinese elements.

The three places Red Cliff will stage their tour performance are themselves culturally significant. The three theaters in their respective cities are symbols of history, architecture and art. Opera Le Nozze di Figaro and Beethoven's "Symphony No.1" once premiered in the Burgtheater in Vienna. The Hungarian State Opera House is an architecturally renowned opera house,  where world famous composer and conductor Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) was once the art director.

Stage rooms of European theaters are traditionally small. In light of this, NCPA sent a special team to Europe to conduct research in March. Zhang said that based on the size, the stage and set designs were readjusted accordingly.

Chinese culture

When asked why Red Cliff was chosen instead of other Peking operas, Zhang Jigang said that more than just a play, Red Cliff has evolved into a brand and symbol of Chinese culture. Premiering in three European cities, Red Cliff's western tour opens the door for traditional Chinese art to be appreciated by a larger audience.

"Red Cliff's tour performance in Europe is of great significance for the promotion of Peking Opera," said Liu Shengli, an official from the Beijing Opera Theater of Beijing (BOTB).

Since Peking opera master Mei Lanfang performed in the US 82 years ago, Peking opera has ventured abroad many times. Still, original and vocal plays (wenxi) are rarely seen in the foreign market, he said.

During the tour, four classic Peking Operas produced by BOTB including Three-Road Junction, Farewell My Concubine, The Autumn River and Presenting Pearl on the Rainbow Bridge will be co-presented alongside Red Cliff, constituting the Beijing Peking Opera Festival in Europe.

According to Deng Yijiang, the spokesman for NCPA, before Red Cliff, a series of self-produced plays were invited performing outside the Chinese mainland market, as Chinese culture has been increasingly trendy in recent years. For example, last year, the opera Turandot was invited to tour in South Korea. This March, the Orphan of Zhao was invited to perform in Hong Kong.