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Dadawa, the first Chinese singer that has truly gone international, will perform in Hong Kong in January 2002 for the Music Theatre "The Riddler". The performance, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is produced by Dadawa Group Limited and she herself as the playwright and main vocalist in the show.
In this new production, "The Riddler", Dadawa will transform into a Celestial Spirit and turns the wheel of fate with her voice. One day, the Spirit, who knew nothing about the world, fell into Space and met the Prophet and the Merman. Her admiration for the Merman turned into heartbreak when he scorned her for her ignorance. Sadly she broke out into song, which attracted schools of fish to gather. As the fish leapt above the water, the anglers' lines were waiting, and the Prophet spun the Wheel of Fate. The truth suddenly dawned on the Spirit, so she started singing afresh. In the crystalline singing, the Merman died, regretless. The shoals turned into birds or raindrops. The Spirit took the Merman into her arms and, together, they flew into the sky.
About the story, Dadawa said, "With music as the main line of thought, we extend to the creation of a fable, the staging and the characterization. In revelation of the origins of Man and the relationship between his values within the context of existence and inner reality; against a backdrop of minimalistic use of colours and stage design, and the tone-on-tone inking of lyrical music; abstract elements are welded, re-moulded, and entered into episodes of the story, as single lines or with strong contrasts."
Native of Changsha, Hunan Province and born in Guangzhou as Zhu Zheqin, Dadawa was first runner-up in the Chinese Young Singer TV Award Competition in 1990. In 1995, her album "Sister Drum", the first-ever Chinese recording to be distributed in 56 countries, received many special honours internationally. She also appeared in the First Midem Asia of the same year, a showcase of Asian music where her outstanding performance at "An Evening with Dadawa" impressed the recording industry and the media worldwide and made her an overnight sensation.
Among hundreds of media interviews, "New York Times" says this of her: "Dadawa's ... 'Sister Drum' has fulfilled the Chinese people's dream to introduce their music to the world."
In 1997, her another album "Voices from the Sky" was released in 65 countries and regions, covering five continents of the world. At the same time, it was televised on the MTV Channel of the US for synchronised premiere in 81 countries, making her the fifth artist in the world to have such an honour.
Dadawa has been in Hong Kong in 1999 for the Chinese Arts Festival. Last year, she has given three concerts called "Heavenly Music for Sentiment Beings - Dadawa@2001" in Beijing. In early 2001, she toured with The Chieftains, a group from Ireland, in the US that covering fifteen cities. All these concerts received overwhelming response.
To make the coming performance in Hong Kong to be the best, Dadawa has invited numerous professionals to participate in the production, including Tian Qinxin as Director, He Xuntian as Composer, Luo Jiangtao as Scenographic Imaging Designer, Wang Mei as Choreographer and Mo Xiaomin as Costume and Image Designer.
He Xuntian, composer of "The Riddler", being one of the most important musicians in Chinese music stage, has often been invited to attend international music festivals and international composers' conferences. His biography has been published by International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England in the following titles: "International Who's Who in Music", "Outstanding People of the 20th Century", "International Who's Who in Intellectuals", "Who's Who in Asia and The Pacific Nations" and The American Biographical Institute's "Five Hundred Leaders of Influence". His major works include "Sister Drum"(1994), "Voice from the Sky"(1996) and many more.
"The Riddler", to be staged at 8pm on January 4 to 6, 2002 at Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre, will be performed in Putonghua with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $280, $200 and $120 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. Limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check out other discount schemes in programme leaflets.
For programme details, please call 2770 2275; for reservations and ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999.
End/Monday, November 5, 2001
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