Marco Polo’s conductor: Opera combines Chinese and Western music to enhance the stage effect

21世纪经济报道记者胡慧茵 广州报道

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy. At the same time, in order to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the death of the legendary Italian traveler Marco Polo, the Guangzhou Grand Theater recently re-staged the original opera "Marco Polo". The play will be performed on May 3rd and 4th.

On May 2, a reporter from 21st Century Business Herald visited the crew at the Guangzhou Grand Theater and had a direct look at the rehearsal scene. Marco Polo’s conductor Qian Junping told the reporter that operas must have stories and words, and opera’s music should serve the story and enhance everything that happens on the stage. The music in "Marco Polo" is to help people feel and immerse themselves in the drama to understand the relevant plot. He said that this opera combines Chinese folk music with Western music, and the music is more compact to heighten the dramatic tension.