Raise the Red Lantern

Yesterday we attended a performance by the National Ballet of China of "Raise the Red Lantern". The ballet is loosely based on the Chinese movie of the same name.

The musical score alternates between traditional Peking Opera percussion and Western symphonic music. (At times the music sounded like the sound track to a Hollywood epic.) The sets were simple but extremely effective. Overall, the production was beautiful to look at and has more dramatic impact than any ballet that I can recall.

The review by Rachel Howard in the Chronical today points out that although the dancers were all quite talented, the choreography is bland and predictable. She's right. The staging and music were so overwhelming that I had not noticed.

The four performances of "Raise the Red Lantern" in Berkeley this week were the first in the United States. I do not know where it is going, but if you ever get a chance I strongly recommend that you see this ballet.