Musical honors a talent of the ages

Song Dynasty poet and cultural icon continues to inspire creativity, Chen Nan reports.

Poet Su Shi (1037-1101), also known as Su Dongpo, of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), is one of the most recognized Chinese cultural icons of all time. His legacy, including his calligraphy, painting and his broad influence in lots of fields, as well as his poetry, is celebrated even today.

A musical, Su Dongpo, based on Su's lifetime story will premiere at Beijing's Tianqiao Performing Arts Center on May 4 and will run until May 8.

Songwriter Shen Qing composed nine songs with lyrics adapted from Su's famous ci poems, including The Mid-Autumn Festival (to the tune of "Prelude to Water Melody") and Memories of the Past at Red Cliff (to the tune of "Charm of a Maiden Singer"). Ci poetry is a specific type of rhythmic, tonal delivery popular during the Song Dynasty.

"If he lived today, Su Shi would be a great film director," says Shen, who rose to fame by writing pop songs during the 1990s, making a name with his catchy, soothing ballads. "From his poetry, I can see pictures full of emotion that leave enough space for people to imagine."

The musical tells the story of Su, born in Meishan, now in modern-day Sichuan province, from his youth to his last days in Changzhou, Jiangsu province.

At the age of 20, Su performed brilliantly in the imperial examinations, and began a long and distinguished career as an official, working in various governmental positions. He went through a series of political setbacks, however, including appointments to minor posts in distant places. In spite of the hardships, though, he still retained his optimism.

The musical also portrays the relationship between Su and his family, especially his father Su Xun and his younger brother Su Zhe, both, like him, accomplished men of letters. Su Shi's love for his wife, Wang Fu, is another highlight of the musical.

"As children, we learned and recited Su Shi's poems," says tenor Li Xiang, who plays the role of Su Shi in the musical. "He is a household name in China and it is difficult to describe him in a few words. He was more than a poet." Along with the creative team of the musical, Li started preparing for the role over a year ago by visiting scholars and repeatedly reading Su Shi's works.

"As well as his talent and versatility, I also admire his optimism, given that his career path was bumpy," adds Li, who graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and has been performing as a tenor with the China National Opera House since 2005.