'The Phantom of the Opera' in Town, More to Look Forward to This National Day Holiday
The much-anticipated musical "The Phantom of the Opera" will kick off its 40th-anniversary farewell round at the Shanghai Grand Theater on September 29 with a 104-performance run.
This will be the longest-running original musical production ever staged in China, expected to attract more than 150,000 audience members.
Ramin Karimloo, who has appeared in "The Phantom of the Opera" in the West End and in the 25th Anniversary Concert, has joined as a special cast to play the Phantom.
"What the show means to me now is less about legacy. It's more about the responsibility to tell the story," he said.
Karimloo said that compared with his previous two tightly scheduled visits to Shanghai, this residency would allow him time to see more of the city rather than being a hurried tourist.
Bebe Moss and Ralph Watts, who play Christine Daaé and Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, respectively, previously made their Chinese mainland debuts in Wuhan and Chengdu.
Moss said it was her first time leaving the United States, and she was full of anticipation about exploring Shanghai, an international metropolis that blends history and technology.
Several other music performances are also worth looking forward to during the National Day holiday.
On October 2, classical-electronic crossover band Symphoniacs will bring its China debut concert to the Oriental Art Center.
This German music group was founded in Berlin in 2016 by producer Andy Leomar. The band's six members fuse the classical textures of violin, cello and piano with the avant-garde rhythms of electronic synthesizers. They are skilled at refreshing timeless classics by Bach and Vivaldi, and also perform pop singles in their own way.
On October 6, the Vienna Boys Choir returns to the Shanghai stage to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria.
The concert will begin with repertoire most characteristic of Austria, from Mozart and Schubert to the Strauss family. Folk songs from Tyrol, Carinthia and other regions reveal the simple yet vivid folk atmosphere of the Alps.
The choir will then perform excerpts from the opera "Turandot," songs from musicals and films such as "The Sound of Music," "Mulan" and "Castle in the Sky," as well as pop works such as "Contentment" and "Mas Que Nada."
At the Shanghai Concert Hall, British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor will give a recital on October 3. In his only Chinese mainland appearance this year, Grosvenor will perform classics by Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt and Chopin.
The Shanghai Concert Hall, originally built in 1930, will be open to visitors during the National Day holiday. In addition to booking guided tours, visitors can try two XR experiences on the fourth floor of the historic building.
Performance info
The Phantom of the Opera
Dates: September 29-December 27, 2pm/7:30pm
Tickets: 280-1,580 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater 上海大剧院
Address: 300 People's Ave 人民大道300号
Symphoniacs
Date: October 2, 7:30pm
Vienna Boys Choir
Date: October 6, 7:30pm
Tickets: 180-680 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center 上海东方艺术中心
Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd 丁香路425号
Benjamin Grosvenor
Date: October 3, 7:30pm
Tickets: 80-480 yuan
Venue: Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall 上海音乐厅
Address: 523 Yan'an Rd E. 延安东路523号
