The Past Ballad, a musical that depicts the life of Chinese composer Wang Luobin (1913-96), especially his youth, is being staged at Beijing Normal University, the China Daily reported Wednesday.
The musical, which premiered at Beiguo Theater in the university on July 13 and ran for six shows until July 17, was presented by over 100 students and teachers from the university, according to the newspaper.
"Wang Luobin is a household name in China, and we decided to produce a musical based on his life because his music is still popular today, and he is a Beijing Normal University alumnus," producer Yang Chenghu was quoted by the newspaper as saying. Yang teaches at the university and is the assistant president of its School of Arts and Communication.
Wang Luobin was born in Beijing and enrolled in Beijing Normal University in 1931 to study music with Russian and German teachers. Though classically trained, Wang, who originally dreamed of pursuing music in Europe, fell in love with Chinese folk music after traveling to the country's northwest to study folk songs in 1938, the newspaper said.
"For the students who participated, it was a conversation between them and Wang Luobin as young people," director Xiao Xiangrong, a renowned dancer-choreographer and dean of the university's dance department, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
It was also a great opportunity for the youth to explore original Chinese folk music, Xiao said.
