The opera of Dream of the Red Chamber《红楼梦》, the first opera adapted from an 18th century Chinese novel of the same name, returned to San Francisco in mid—June this year, six years after its world debut（首演）. The opera, developed for Western audiences, has received international praise since it was first performed.
Zhang Meigui, a 28-year-old opera singer, played the role of Daiyu in the opera. To show the audience a fresh version（版本） of Daiyu, she had been preparing for the opera for half a year. "I've watched the video of the 2016 production for many times. I think the performance of the singer （playing Daiyu） is excellent, because the music is composed in an unusual way, which is very challenging and requires a lot of skills, "she said. "For example, in a classic scene, Daiyu finds her world increasingly helpless as her health continues to worsen. She sings, 'When spring is gone and beauty is spent, who cares for the dying flowers?'"
"The singer needs to keep the high notes（高音） with a soft sound, which requires more breath support and air control, "said Zhang. "Some parts of the music are more powerful and require very expressive sound. "
Bright Sheng, the opera's composer, explained in an interview why Daiyu sang in a loud voice. "Music carries feelings that words cannot explain or say. To me, it has to be loud crying, beating her chest as she looks up at the sky to ask these questions. "For the new production, Sheng said he made some changes. He said, "A great opera is not only a big musical theater in action, but also a perfect mixture of music and drama. "
"There's no boundary in the world of music. It can connect people with different backgrounds. I hope American people will be touched by this opera and experience the beauty of Chinese culture, "Zhang added.
