Opening

Mo Yan, author of the novel Red Sorghum, speaks; his book enjoyed great success in the West in Zhang Yimou’s film version. Wu Wei, master of the sheng, the Chinese mouth organ, and Gert Anklam on the saxophone open a dialogue of sounds. Music theatre star Wu Hsing-Kuo shows scenes from his version of King Lear, a much-celebrated Shakespeare interpretation in Chinese opera style, Zhao Zhigang scenes from his Shanghai Opera performance The Dream of the Red Chamber. The preview is introduced by Tian Mansha, one of the most influential opera artists in China today, and curator of the House of World Cultures’ music programme. The exhibition opens with performances by three performance artists entitled Performance Red!: Li Wei, Mirrors, Cai Yuan and JJ Xi Dou- pi-gai: struggle criticise reform, Yang Zhichao, China Red. In addition, the silent-film classic The Goddess will be shown on the big screen, accompanied by live music.