1、As the curtains rose for the stars of the musical Notre Dame de Paris to take their bow at the shows Beijing premiere, they were met with a roaring standing ovation.The high-energy adaptation of Victor Hugos classic tale, also known as The Hunchback of Notre Dame is currently on its third tour of Ch
2、ina.The sung-through musical tells the tragic love story of the much-desired beautiful young bohemian Esmerelda, played by Italian actress Alessandra Ferrari and the disfigured cathedral bell ringer Quasimodo, played by French-Canadian Matt Laurent.Acrobats swinging from giant cathedral bells, spect
3、acular lighting and even elements of break dancing are used in this contemporary portrayal of the gothic story.Laurent has played the unlikely hero, Quasimodo for the shows entire fourteen-year history.As soon as I am onstage, as soon as I show my face to the public I become Quasimodo and it doesnt
4、matter anymore. Its just the hunchback that takes place. And my goal is that people, they feel, you know, sorry for him and they want to like him at the end. Thats my job, for people to get moved by the emotions of the character and hopefully do and so far I think that its working very well.And its
5、safe to say that the audience at Beijings Poly Theatre agrees.I think it is very thrilling, especially the musical sound effects, the actors and actresses dancing and their singing skills. They were very passionate, and I was so moved because of it. At the end of musical, after they took their bows
6、and waved to the crowd, the audience was reluctant to leave. I enjoyed it very much.I adore it. I love going to the musicals. Though this is my first time watching Notre Dame de Paris, I have been to many other musicals. The set up of the stage and the music are very beautiful, especially the compos
7、ition of the music.The man behind the music is the award-winning Italian composer Richard Cocciante.During the final curtain call, Cocciante stepped onto the stage to thank the audience for the applause, drawing thundering cheer.Before the show, Cocciante spoke about the universality of music in rea
8、ching audiences the world over.Music, its a language. You can say a lot of things and people of all the world they are sensitive to this kind of expression, thats the mystery of music. This is why I love music, this is why I am here because I understand that music is a real, complete language even i
9、f you do not have words.It looks as though this philosophy will put the composer in good stead for his next musical endeavour.Cocciante says that he hopes to collaborate with local musicians to provide audiences in the country with musicals sung in Chinese, an ancient and inherently poetic language.
10、In the meantime, I have composed to The Little Prince, I did it in France for a year and a half and I would like to do it in Chinese as soon as possible, it would be fantastic for me. I composed also, in Italian, Juliet and Romeo, its not Romeo and Juliet, and I would like to do it also in Chinese.
11、I think its a language that people love here. So thats why I would like to try to make this musical spectacle in Chinese.Cocciantes Notre Dame de Paris is sure to receive many more standing ovations as it continues on its third China tour after its two week stint in the capital.For CRI, Im Alexandra Blucher.