Re-imagined Mulan Psalm Staged in Guangzhou

On 1 December, the Youth Edition of Mulan Psalm, a contemporary Chinese opera in four acts, was presented at the Friendship Theatre in Guangzhou. The performance, featuring around 260 artists from the Henan Performing Arts Group, Henan Music College of Zhengzhou University and the Era Festival Orchestra, was conducted by maestro Li Haoran. It marked the first stage production of the re-imagined Youth Edition of the opera, composed by Guan Xia with a libretto by Liu Lin.The story of Hua Mulan, the young woman who takes her father’s place in the army, is widely known in China and beyond. Themes of loyalty, family devotion and courage have inspired many interpretations on stage and screen. Mulan Psalm, created by Guan Xia and Liu Lin, premiered in 2004 at Beijing Poly Theatre, combining heartfelt lyrical writing with dramatic scenes of battle, humour and a concluding ode to peace. Arias such as “If I Were a Woman” quickly became audience favourites.Since its premiere, the opera has been performed by major ensembles including the China National Symphony Orchestra and the PLA Art Troupe, touring widely in China and abroad. It has been presented more than 400 times and has appeared at venues such as the Vienna State Opera and Lincoln Center.The new Youth Edition introduced a younger generation of creative and vocal cast. Conductor Li Haoran, winner of the Bucharest International Conducting Competition and currently Guest Conductor for the Mariinsky Theatre and Resident Conductor of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, led the performance.Two young sopranos from the Henan Performing Arts Group, Wen Yang and Wang Yuanyuan, alternated as Mulan in the two halves of the opera. Both received coaching from Chen Jing, one of the original interpreters of the role. Chen worked closely with them on vocal characterisation, stage movement and the emotional shifts between Mulan’s disguised identity and her private life.Similarly, tenors Tian Jihao and Cao Guo from Henan Music College alternated as Liu Shuang, guided by their mentor Dai Yuqiang, another member of the original cast. Dai helped them refine the expressive transitions between military duty and personal emotion. The 40-member Era Festival Orchestra provided a finely balanced musical foundation.At the curtain call, composer Guan Xia invited original cast members Dai Yuqiang and Chen Jing back on stage to sing the opera’s closing “Ode to Peace”, joined by chorus and orchestra.The Guangzhou performance highlighted the growing strength of Henan’s younger generation of classical musicians, with most of the cast, chorus, dancers and orchestra drawn from the province. Mulan’s story originates from Yucheng in Henan, giving the production a strong sense of regional identity as veteran artists and emerging singers shared the stage.The opera also drew attention from international guests attending the “Understanding China” conference in Guangzhou. Former Ethiopian president Mulatu Teshome said he found the story of war and peace, love and courage easy to follow and emotionally engaging. Former Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel praised the music’s expressive power and noted that although stylistically different from works commonly seen at the Vienna State Opera, its artistic level was comparable. He expressed interest in obtaining the orchestral score, particularly the string parts.Following the Guangzhou staging, the Youth Edition of Mulan Psalm is scheduled for a national tour in May 2026, followed by performances in Europe and North America. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit klassikom.substack.com