Musical honoring Battle of Xiangjiang River

The performance has won attention and praise from all walks of life. CHINA DAILY

Show has been performed dozens of times to the delight of viewers across China

To commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Battle of the Xiangjiang River and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the musical show Red Xiangjiang River premiered at the Guangxi Culture and Art Center in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, in September 2019.

The performance has won attention and praise from all walks of life and set off a cultural upsurge in Nanning to review the history of the Battle of the Xiangjiang River and cherish the memory of its revolutionary martyrs.

Since its premiere, the show has been performed more than 30 times in Guangxi and in cities such as Beijing and Chengdu. It has won unanimous praise and enthusiastic response from both experts and audiences.

In 2020, it was selected as a Celebration of China by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

From Nov 10 to 11, 2020, the show was staged at the National Centre for the Performing Arts twice in a row. The audience was deeply touched and moved by the ups and downs of the plot, as well as by the beautiful and majestic lyrics and singing. On June 5 to 6, the show was performed in the Sichuan Grand Theater.

Everyone was inspired by the Red Army soldiers' decision to stand up and sacrifice their lives in times of crisis, and paid tribute to the heroes with the warmest applause.

At the end of the performance, the audience burst into tears, stood up on their own, and extended their heartfelt applause toward the stage.

The show is based on historical events that took place in the Battle of the Xiangjiang River in Xing'an, Quanzhou, and Guanyang counties in Guilin, Guangxi.

The show features Chen Shuxiang, a leader of the No 34 division of the Red Army, as its protagonist. It tells the tragic story of Chen's fierce battle until his ammunition was exhausted. After being shot in the abdomen, he chooses to die instead of surrendering and being heartbroken.

Red Xiangjiang River gives full play to the unique charm of the stage form of a musical. It combines the solemn spirit of opera with the passion of dance drama.

The show uses modern stage art techniques that conform to contemporary aesthetics with a profound spirit and inspiration as well as the integration of Red culture and stage art.

The ups and downs of its plot as well as its passionate music and a solemn stage atmosphere help Red Xiangjiang River take its audience through time and space, exploring the years of blood and fire that was shed on the bank of the Xiangjiang River.

The show is based on historical events that took place in the Battle of the Xiangjiang River in Xing'an, Quanzhou, and Guanyang counties in Guilin, Guangxi. CHINA DAILY