Ancient Sound of Dunhuang: A Golden Age Unveiled on Stage

The music and dance show "Ancient Sound of Dunhuang· Songs of a Golden Age" made its Shanghai debut this week, presenting the millennia-old allure of the country's western regions through a fusion of music, dance, poetry and visual art.

The production follows musician Bai Xin on his quest to blend Eastern and Western musical traditions.

Ancient instruments depicted in Dunhuang murals, including the pipa, lotus-shaped ruan, bili (a double-reed pipe) and sheng (mouth organ), have been recreated and brought on to stage.

The show features 15 newly arranged ancient Dunhuang melodies in four chapters, bringing to life the magnificent synthesis of music, dance, poetry and painting seen in the Mogao Caves murals in northwest China's Gansu Province.

The musical composition adheres to the meter change rules of ancient scores, blending medieval modes with exotic scales like raga and maqam, while incorporating modern styles including electronic, reggae and rock.

The stage design draws inspiration from classic mural elements found in Caves 57 and 220 of the Mogao Grottoes, utilizing multimedia projections and stage machinery to recreate on stage the dynamic dance poses from the murals.

The performance is running at Theater YOUNG through July 19. The theater is concurrently hosting a series of Dunhuang-themed cultural events, including a contemporary Dunhuang poetry and art exhibition, and a creative merchandise market.

If you go:

Date: Through July 19, 2pm, 7:30pm

Tickets: 180-880 yuan

Venue: Theater YOUNG

Address: 1155 Kongjiang Rd, Yangpu District 

杨浦区控江路1155号