Gala to be a “Feast” of Traditional Chinese Culture
An Interview with Yang Xiaomei, art director of NTDTV Global Chinese New Year Gala, Chicago
The Epoch Times
The NTDTV 2006 Global Chinese New Year Gala will put on a production in the biggest theatre in Chicago-Arie Crown Theatre. Ticket sales have already begun in Chicago and mid USA. Arie Crown Theatre is a beautiful combination of modern and traditional art, and it seats up to 4000 people. To gather more details about the gala, an Epoch Times reporter interviewed the art director of NTDTV's Chicago branch, Ms. Yang Xiaomei.
Epoch Times: Hello Xiaomei, can you talk about the original plan and motivation of having a Chinese New Year gala?
Yang: Sure. I believe that all overseas Chinese have the same feeling—there is no atmosphere of Chinese New Year when it is coming. After a long time of living here, we only celebrate American holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In 2004 and 2005, NTDTV had two Chinese New Year galas in New York. I went there two years in a row, and I was very touched by the performances. Especially in 2004, the first time I went there, it was snowing and raining in New York, and very muddy on the street. It was hard to get a taxi from the airport, but we were still very excited. As soon as we got to the hotel, everybody in my family started dressing up. We all wore traditional Chinese clothes, which gave us the feeling of the good old days of Chinese New Year.
show started because of the excellent performances and the atmosphere of Chinese New Year. I felt that the performers expressed their art from the bottom of their hearts, so the performances were powerful and moving, and could not be described with words. After living overseas for so long, it was the first time I had such a feeling, and I will never forget it.
My favorite program was the song, “Longing for China Proper” by the contralto Yang Jiansheng, who was with the Central Philharmonic Society of China (CPSC) and now lives and works in Germany. On that night, she wore a white Qipao (traditional Chinese dress). On the blue backdrop, there was an Oriental landscape and Chinese calligraphy of the lyrics of the song. When she started the first line: “I love the middle land, where I was born and grew up. I love the culture of the middle land, which is the essence of the 5000-year history,” tears streamed down my cheeks. It has been so long since I heard such a beautiful song with such a beautiful message. A famous economist from China, He Qinglian, was there too. I remember she remarked, “This is the true traditional culture.”
Because of such an unforgettable feeling, I had the idea of having such a gala in Chicago to share this wonderful feeling with the people of Chicago.
ET: Arie Crown Theatre is the biggest one in Chicago. It has 4000 seats. How many tickets do you think you can sell?
YX: The theaters have been full for two years in a row at the galas in New York. Chicago is the biggest city in the Midwest, and it is the only city in the Midwest which will put on this gala, featuring NTDTV’s troupe of 60 performing artists. We have just begun ticket sales, and we have already received many orders for tickets from people in cities throughout the Midwest. Also, we made very beautiful posters to promote the gala that appeal to both Chinese and Americans. Many stores and businesses are happy to display them, which helps us advertise the gala and sell tickets.
As for the performances, a third of them will be by local Chicago artists. We invited several famous groups in Chicago to perform. Many fans of these groups will come to see them. Everything considered, I have confidence that there will be a good turnout.
ET: Speaking of the performance, can you tell us what special ones you will have this year?
YX: The theme of the Gala this year is “Myths and Legends.” The NTDTV troupe of 60 performers consists of artists from many countries. We also have a dance troupe from Taiwan. Since NTDTV is a private TV station, run by overseas Chinese, and which is not controlled by any government, we must consider the needs and tastes of overseas Chinese, and our goal is to show the true traditional Chinese culture. The local groups that will perform in the Gala are also famous music or dance groups, and the art they will perform is also wholesome and joyous.
I have been a reporter for many years, and I have interviewed many people in the Chinese community, so I know there are a lot of gifted artists in the Chinese community in Chicago. If possible, we will invite some local Chinese performance groups to participate in our Gala next year. Moreover, as far as I know, many traditional Chinese songs have been recomposed, and some American vocal groups can sing them very well. I think these are also very excellent programs which will add to our Gala.
Finally, I would like to say that I hope everybody will come to see our Gala, join the feast of traditional culture and celebrate the Chinese New Year together.