Going gaga over German musicals

One of the most successful German musicals, Elisabeth, has kicked off a new tour of China with 21 shows at the Shanghai Culture Square from Aug 29 to Sept 15.

The musical will go on to play at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing from Sept 18 to 22, and at Guangzhou Opera House in Guangdong province from Sept 26 to 30.

Elisabeth, with lyrics by Michael Kunze and music by Sylvester Levay, premiered in Vienna in 1992. It has been performed more than 9,000 times, with shows attended by more than 12 million people in 14 countries. Based on the story of Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie (1837-98), Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, it portrays a new-age queen fighting for freedom against suffocating imperial court life.

The touring production, Elisabeth in Concert, premiered in the grand forecourt of Schonbrunn Palace in 2019. It features 39 songs and a cast of 30. However, in place of sets, the orchestra is on stage, and a theatrical effect is achieved through the use of background video projections and dynamic lighting design.

According to Annemieke van Dam, who plays the title character, singing with the orchestra on stage is always a new and intense experience, although she has performed the role over 1,000 times. "The melodies create my emotions, so every crescendo and decrescendo … all the little things make me feel everything in Elisabeth," the actress told media in Shanghai. "I don't have in-ear monitors, so I hear the orchestra directly next to me: the cello being here, and the trumpets being there, and it is such an intense experience."

The musical made its first tour of China 10 years ago, when 40 shows were given at the Shanghai Culture Square. The performances opened a door to a wider world beyond Broadway and the West End for musical lovers in China, according to Fei Yuanhong, general manager of the Shanghai Culture Square. Since then, the theater has gone on to host productions in German, French and other languages.