Winland Christmas Gala Concerts
2008The Gala Concert for the Unveiling Ceremony
—— of the Mural NESSUN DORMA
Born from Puccini's opera Turandot, the only Western classical opera set in China, and blending the style of Western aria and a melody of uniquely "Chinese flavor", this work tells the story of love between a Chinese princess and the prince of a foreign land – their bitter lives, and their beautiful denouement.
Forty meters in height, fifteen in width, it is named for the brilliant tenor passage sung by Prince Calaf: 'Nessun Dorma'.
This piece embodies twelve major plot points of the opera, distilled through China's particular artistic sensitivities and its craft of lacquerware. The soul of the work, its melody, passion and fantasy, is bodied forth by abstract form, fluctuating color and clear, coherent line. Against a field of cloud, the work tells the tales of the opera:
Arriving astride the clouds; the meeting of father and son; the death of the Persian prince; the aggrieved soul's lament; the princess's stunning appearance ; the drum sounded and challenge accepted; the prince guesses riddles; the temptation of an otherworldly beauty; Liu speaks her heart; Liu's death; the ice-melting kiss … Against a backdrop formed of eleven auspicious clouds the work expresses its main theme: the glory and exaltation of the prince as he sings "I shall prevail", and the lament which nonetheless sounds within his heart.
Two realms are given shape within this work: the Bodhisattva Guanyin and an flying apsara ensconced in cloud; the phoenix's death and rebirth by fire.
The princess's noble, quick-silver heart is represented by a vast crown of flowers; the splendor of China's traditional garments and the princess's graceful carriage are represented by the flowing robes and 'cloud-sleeves' which stream from her. The heavenly robe gently floats and curls, and the jasmine flowers upon her face represent "Moli Hua", the most beautiful of Chinese melodies. A bright orange hue is used in wide swathes, representing the prince's virility and heroic nature, and the surges of his heart. The deep red behind him stands for Liu's desolation. Liu's love and sacrifice are the wellspring of the prince's courage and power.
The work speaks of blessings through strands of cloud; speaks of love through the magnificence of the deep-blue night. Taihedian marks the location as Beijing; among the bustle of the rioting stars, Beijing shall not sleep tonight. Use of the musical staff and the fortissimo express the work's powerful sense of music.
The work embodies elements of traditional Chinese culture such as Taiji, Yin and Yang, the five elements and the unity of man and heaven. As the pinnacle of the art of lacquer painting, it symbolizes the unflagging will of the Chinese people, and the optimism and determination of this race to reach the stars.
The past and the future as we imagine them – the fusing of transcendent time and multi-dimensional space – have been condensed and compressed into a single surface, expressing the essence of immortal beauty. The work translates a living tale into abstract form, then once again gives shape to abstraction, and finally makes use of directly-perceived imagery to deepen the significance of the abstraction. The work leaps free of reality, and uses mystery, riddle, distance, the spirit world, and limitless reverie to create a sense of multi-dimensional time and space.
It conveys joys and sorrows, pastings and reunions, the tragedy and happiness of human relations. It incorporates all the splendor of the world, and all the beauties of regret.
Puccini left this world before he was able to finish Turandot.
Chen Yifei also left us before the completion of this work.
Pavarotti's performance of 'Nessun Dorma' has already become synonymous with the opera as a whole; the star has fallen from the sky, and We hear brilliance and grief in the sound of Bocelli's voice. Hearing that voice, we draw the curtain aside and witness an incomparable magnificence and glory. This work, like life, knows more of regret than of triumph.
—— Riccardo Sessa
Ambassador of Italy to China
