New theater season is set to be spectacular

The Shanghai Opera House recently unveiled its 2025 season, which features a diverse lineup of international collaborations, classic masterpieces and original productions.

One of the season's highlights is the opera house's first-ever cooperation with the Bayreuth Festival to present Richard Wagner's sublime opera Tristan and Isolde. Based on the Bayreuth Festival's 2022 production, this collaboration will involve Shanghai singers taking on major roles alongside the Bayreuth ensemble cast.

The new production of Falstaff, directed by a British team, will also return to the Shanghai stage, moving the comic opera's setting to 1950s Britain with new backdrops and costume designs.

"Through these international collaborations, we aim to showcase the exceptional talent of Chinese artists and global companies, as well as the dynamism of China's audiences and market," explains Xu Zhong, director of the Shanghai Opera House.

"This season elevates our artistic output across every dimension," says Xu, describing it as a collection of original operas and major coproductions with other theaters from China and abroad.

A centerpiece world premiere is A Dream of Splendor, an opera produced by the Shanghai Opera House in partnership with Tencent Video. This piece, inspired by the popular eponymous TV series, dramatizes the lives of three women living in the Song Dynasty (960-1127), and celebrates the theme of female empowerment.

The score and libretto take inspiration from the era's poetry, music, and aesthetic ideals to artistically re-create vibrant scenes and the cultural milieu of the period.

"Opera must fully embody its essence with music as the driving force to highlight the singing, providing audiences with a fresh perspective," says director Jiang Weiguo. "While primarily an audio experience, the visuals are also imbued with ancient Chinese motifs and aesthetics."

Another major original production is the symphonic choral suite New Journey Xin'an Touring Troupe, which honors wartime musical troupes that entertained and rallied resistance forces against the Japanese invasion. Many core members of these roving performance ensembles, once dubbed "buglers for national liberation", later joined the Shanghai Opera House.

In creating this suite, the company hopes to pass on its spirit and pass on the revolutionary cultural gene to younger generations through a contemporary perspective and youthful musical language.

Other performances include the opera March of the Volunteers, commemorating the 90th anniversary of this iconic patriotic song's 1935 debut. It greatly encouraged soldiers and civilians during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and was later chosen as China's national anthem. The opera will be presented at the West Bund Grand Theater with more polished and fluid staging.

The original dance theater production Dance of Calligraphy in 353 AD will also embark on a new tour in 2025. Meanwhile, the dance gala Chasing Light will showcase radiant moments in the dancers' quest to catch the ideal metaphoric light.

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Shanghai Opera House will collaborate with the Inner Mongolia Art Theatre for the choral concert Ode to Peace, paying tribute to the historical struggle.

Additional season highlights include semi-staged productions of classics including Cosi Fan Tutte, Rigoletto, and Cavalleria Rusticana. Concert performances of the symphonic chorus Carmina Burana, along with collaborations with the Shanghai International Arts Festival, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and other regional orchestras, will also be held.

"This spectacular season showcases wonderful collaborations in opera, dance, symphonic concerts and events with renowned artists from around the globe," Xu says.

The announcement of the 2025 season coincides with the 40th anniversary of opera-themed magazine Ge Ju (Opera), which will be celebrated with an exhibition at the Shanghai Grand Theatre. Through immersive displays like stage models, photo galleries, artifacts and interactive digital experiences, the exhibition traces the development of both the publication and the art form in China over the past four decades.

The Shanghai Opera House will continue pursuing excellence through innovation and unwavering effort, says Zhao Lei, Party secretary of the Shanghai Opera House.

"We invite audiences to witness and participate in this journey that combines domestic and international artistic excellence while bridging traditional and modern, Chinese and Western essences," she says.