《斩断》 Sever - a live cinematic concert experience.

A sizzler reel for Sever《斩断》 a 25min live cinematic concert experience. Starring: Lusu as Guanyu, Zhao Qing Yi as Diaochan, Musical Director - Zhu Ma Film Director and editor - David Harris

《斩断》Sever premiered at the Shanghai International Festival of the Arts 2015 and went on to tour internationally to enthusiastic response in New York (Asia Society), London (Southbank Centre), Hungary (Cafe Budapest), India (New Dehli International Festival of the Arts), Hong Kong (New Vision Arts Festival) and play again Shanghai, China.

The piece is a collaboration with musician Zhuma (Band: Xiban 戏班). Eight performers accompany the silent film, providing the live soundtrack; incorporating and reimagining the music of Xiban with elements of Pekin Opera.

“A Surreal, Paradigm-Shifting Night of Music and Film” - New York Music Daily

斩断 / Sever draws on the legendary tale of two Pekin Opera characters drawn from Chinese folk history. Guanyu - the Saint of War, and Diaochan - one of the "four great beauties" of Chinese history. Set in modern day Shanghai, the historical context of these characters and the Pekin Opera art form is thrown up against todays world to explore themes of identity, consequence and belonging.

《斩断》Sever was commissioned by R.A.W.

Runtime: 25 mins.

Reviewed by New York Music Daily here

WATCH : trailer for Imagined Futures New York Festival.

WATCH recording of live performance

WATCH film

Gallery images courtesy of YanZhen photography 2016