Chinese fans of the 1960s are in for a treat as the “Visitors on the Icy Mountain” hits the stage in Shanghai on Feb. 11 where hit songs of the decade would be performed opera-style.
Six Chinese hit tracks of the '60s would resonate once again as the film about the frontline guards of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China is remade into an opera show.
Among the songs to be performed include "In Memory for Comrade in Arms," "Why Is the Flower So Red" and "Snow Lotus on Iceberg," as well as "The Tajik Eagles," "The Sandstorm in the Gobi Desert" and "The Song of Plateau."
According to the Shanghai Daily, the songs which became popular for having Tajik characteristics as well as the story's heroes have impressed several generations of Chinese fans.
"The opera version will largely preserve the original figures, lines and melodies, while enriching the music part," opera director Chen Xinyi stated, adding that new songs incorporated into the show were composed by renowned songwriter Lei Lei, who was the daughter of the original film director Lei Zhenbang.
She was also responsible for the success of the operas "Xi Shi" and "The Orphan of Zhao."
Produced in 1963, the original film was considered a classic Chinese movie whose soundtracks made its mark among generations of moviegoers for nearly half a century, Chen said.
"It is always touching to see audiences humming the songs together with the performers on stage," he added.
In December, the opera version of "Visitors on the Icy Mountain" was initially staged in Beijing at the National Grand Theater and gathered an average audience that filled more than 95 percent of the stadium's capacity.