Guan Xia: Mulan Psalm

Introduction

"Mulan is an old Chinese legend, but the opera interprets the legend in a brand new style, which is very successful," said Peter Woells, a local musician who watched the opera.

As Saturday is his wife's birthday, Woells told Xinhua that watching such "excellent work" with his wife is an "excellent birthday gift" for her.

In a written address, Austrian Culture Minister Claudia Schmied said "Mulan" would significantly enrich the musical life in the Vienna State Opera and Vienna at large.

"Mulan" was first staged in Beijing in 2004, and in September of the following year it was performed in New York.

"Mulan" is based on a legendary story about a young girl named Mulan who lived in China some 1,500 years ago. In order to retain the family honor, Mulan replaced her ailing father to join the army in disguise as a gentleman and saved her country from the intruder.

While putting together various forms of performance such as symphony, musical, theater and dance, it also blended into the element of China's folk music, singing technique, national costume and martial art, which helped create vivid artistic images on the stage from different angles and perspectives.