Modern Chinese opera (late XX – early XXI centuries) and “The First Emperor” by Tan Dun

Abstract

The article examines the trends of modern Chinese academic and traditional musical theater (Beijing Opera), their reflection in Tan Dun's opera “The First Emperor”, the connection with such movements as postmodernism and avant-garde. Particular attention is paid to the ritual as the basis of the Tan Dun Musical Theater, the synthesis of the traditional Chinese and Western Opera House in its opera at the level of genre, musical language, instrumentation and composition techniques.

Keywords

modern Chinese opera, trends in the development of Chinese musical theater, Tan Dun, synthesis of Chinese and Western theater, opera "The First Emperor," ritual