On May 3rd and 4th, the opera "Marco Polo" returns to the stage of the Guangzhou Opera House, celebrating the May Day holiday with the audience.

On May 2nd, reporters from the Yangcheng Evening News entered the backstage of the Guangzhou Opera House to witness the intense rehearsal of the cast.

"Marco Polo" is a three-act opera sung in Chinese, with Marco Polo's legendary Eastern travels as the main theme, encompassing the epic scale of history and passionate love, showcasing the cultural value and humanistic charm of the Silk Road, and expressing praise and prayers for human peace and world harmony.

As an opera, music is undoubtedly the highlight of this production. The musical elements of "Marco Polo" are numerous, with beautiful melodies. It is reported that "Marco Polo" employs an orchestra of about 70 people. In addition to Western instruments as the foundation, Chinese traditional instruments such as bamboo flutes are incorporated. Together, they weave a musical narrative that combines Chinese folk music with Western music, telling the legendary experiences of Marco Polo.

In "Marco Polo," the plot and characters come from a combination of reality and fiction, featuring the integration and communication of Eastern and Western civilizations along the ancient Silk Road, the transition from the Song dynasty to the Yuan dynasty, real historical figures such as Marco Polo, Xin Qiji, and Wen Tianxiang, as well as fictional characters and specific plots.

In May 2018, "Marco Polo" premiered at the Guangzhou Opera House and the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, attracting high attention. In 2019, the opera "Marco Polo" was staged at Teatro dal Verme in Milan and Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Italy, receiving enthusiastic responses from local audiences. After the performances in Italy, the audience expressed their appreciation and love with "Bravo." Afterward, the cast encountered some audience members in restaurants, who also warmly praised the work.

Marco Polo is an ambassador for spreading Chinese culture, and his travels have inspired countless people's longing for the East. The opera "Marco Polo" uses this iconic figure to present the unique charm of Eastern culture and the interaction between Chinese and Western civilizations through the familiar opera format to Western audiences.

The year 2024 marks the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death. On this occasion, the re-staging of "Marco Polo" holds significant meaning. It is introduced that this time, the cast has invited popular and talented singers, renowned both domestically and internationally, and will be conducted by Qian Junping, a rising international star conductor. They will collaborate with the Macao Orchestra, the chorus ofCentral Conservatory of Music, and the youth dance troupe of South China University of  Technology to present this magnificent epic production.

Source:Yangcheng Evening News

彩排现场直击！《马可·波罗》广州复演，用歌剧艺术传递中意友谊

5月3日、4日，歌剧《马可·波罗》重归广州大剧院舞台，与观众共度“五一”假期。

5月2日，羊城晚报记者走进广州大剧院后台直击剧组紧锣密鼓的彩排现场。

《马可·波罗》是一部用中文演唱的三幕歌剧，全剧以马可·波罗的东方传奇行记为主线，包含了波澜壮阔的史诗格局和荡气回肠的爱恨情仇，彰显了丝绸之路的文化价值和人文风采，抒发了对人类和平、世界和谐的赞美和祈颂。

作为一部歌剧，音乐无疑是本剧的重头元素。《马可·波罗》一剧的音乐元素众多、旋律优美、可听性极高。据悉，《马可·波罗》一剧启用了约70人编制的乐团，在以西洋乐器为基底的乐队中，加入了竹笛等中国民族乐器，以中国民乐与西方音乐相结合的音乐交织戏剧故事，讲述了马可·波罗的传奇经历。

《马可·波罗》一剧中，剧情和人物虚实结合，既有古丝绸之路上东西方文明的交融互通，宋元王朝的更迭，马可·波罗、辛弃疾、文天祥等真实的历史人物，也有传云、柳娘等虚构的人物和具体情节。

2018年5月，《马可·波罗》在广州大剧院和北京天桥艺术中心进行了首轮演出，引发高度关注。2019年，歌剧《马可·波罗》曾在歌剧诞生之地意大利的米兰达尔·维尔梅剧院和热那亚卡洛·费利切歌剧院上演，收获当地民众热烈反响。在意大利的演出结束后，观众毫不吝啬地用“Bravo”表达他们的欣赏与喜爱之情。之后，剧组在餐厅还和一些观众偶遇，他们也热情地称赞这部作品。

马可·波罗是传播中国文化的大使，他的行记让无数人对东方产生了向往。歌剧《马可·波罗》就是通过这样一个标志性的人物，利用西方观众熟悉的歌剧形式，呈现东方文化的独特魅力和中西文明互鉴。

2024年是马可·波罗逝世700周年，在此之际，《马可·波罗》载誉重启，意义非凡。据介绍，此次，剧组邀请到人气与实力兼具、蜚声海内外的歌唱家坐镇，由国际指挥新星钱骏平执棒，联手澳门乐团、中央音乐学院合唱团和华南理工大学青年舞蹈团再现这部美轮美奂的史诗巨制。

文丨记者 艾修煜
图丨记者 潘俊华 刘颖颖
翻译｜刘佳慧