Asia's most dynamic theater experience fuses pioneering technology with cultural heritage
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The stage pulses with energy. Laser beams, music and imagery weave a vivid spree. The past and future converge in flawless harmony. In this mesmerizing world of color, light, sound and emotions, cutting-edge technology is immersed in the extraordinary beauty of Chinese cultural heritage, which is in turn brought to life by the pulse of technological innovation. The unique fusion results in a trailblazing art form - a grand masterpiece that captivates the senses, enlightens the mind, and takes live entertainment to staggering heights. From start to finish, the audience is enraptured.
Welcome to Macau 2049, Asia's most dynamic high-tech theater performance that blends a futuristic universe of innovation with the lasting beauty of traditional Chinese cultural heritage. Staged at Macau's MGM Theater as the world-class venue's first-ever residency show, the 80-minute masterpiece is curated by legendary Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou - the show's Chief Director.
Weaving together eight performance segments, Macau 2049 is a grand tribute to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macau's return to China. It also serves as a catalyst for elevating the city's cultural and entertainment landscape, forging a powerful link between technology and tradition that will inspire live entertainment around the world for many years to come.
With his bold vision and celebrated aesthetics, the internationally acclaimed artist leads a global team of top talents and a strong crew from more than 20 countries and regions, made up of A-list performers and behind-the-scenes experts. Hailing from four corners of the globe including the UK, the US, Inner Mongolia, Korea, Belarus and Poland, they have dedicated over 2,800 man-hours over the course of nearly a year. All the hard work, combined with leading-edge technologies and a curated selection of intangible cultural heritage, culminates in Macau 2049, an unrivaled theatrical experience that highlight the vast potential of modern technology in preserving and celebrating heritage and tradition.Weaving together eight performance segments, Macau 2049 is a grand tribute to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of Macau's return to China. It also serves as a catalyst for elevating the city's cultural and entertainment landscape, forging a powerful link between technology and tradition that will inspire live entertainment around the world for many years to come.Every moment of the performances is a feast for the eyes and the ears. Masterful art direction, breathtaking visuals beaming from Asia's biggest indoor LED screen, as well as spectacular sound effects from first-in-class audio systems, offer a glimpse into a future of tech-infused live entertainment, all the while honoring a selected form of intangible heritage from ancient China. A plethora of 21st-century concert effects and jaw-dropping stage designs are added to the mix to amplify the impact of the show.
Members of the audience will find themselves fully enveloped in the transcendent experience like never before. Their senses are immersed in the motions, music and mood on stage, where state-of-the-art innovation and creativity meets tradition, giving rise to a larger-than-life, futuristic immersive theater extravaganza.In Miao Songs | Transcendent, for example, when beloved classics of Miao folk songs are sung to the accompaniment of a kinetic mirror set comprising more than 100 mirrors, ingeniously mimicking rice terraces on the mountains of Southern China, the audience is instantly drawn into a magnificent universe where nature, artistic expression, and technological marvels come together in perfect synergy.When a lone piece of lightweight fabric dances gracefully on stage in Khoomei | Ethereal, the audience is at the same time treated to hyper-realistic, dynamic sound effects that accentuate an ancient Mongolian style of singing. In the sci-fi and cultural wonderland of Macau 2049, the dialogue between innovation and art and culture is incessant, and technology plays a pivotal role in shaping the audience's multi-sensory experience, enabling them to feel the full force of the amalgamation of the past, present and future.In an age powered by digital innovation and artificial intelligence, the integration of advanced technology in theater performances has become a familiar concept. Yet, Macau 2049 pushes boundaries in numerous ways, not least in its application of the new edge of technology to a long-running theater production performed daily, seamlessly melding it with ancient Chinese culture to stunning effects. By way of example, the use of robots in live entertainment is not without precedent, but Drumming | Shadow breaks new grounds with the seamlessly coordinated, fluid movements of a robot arm and a human dancer. The duo move in sync, and yet a simmering tension is palpable. All this is accompanied by the enchanting rhythms and sounds of ancient percussion instruments. The effects are nothing short of electrifying. Yet the compelling performance also subtly draws the audience into a reflection on the intersection of technology, tradition, and the future of human connection. Is technology in control of our lives or under control? Are we in a symbiotic relationship with machines?
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A forward-thinking synthesis of innovation and tradition, Macau 2049 is an exclusive, must-see theatrical gem, a spellbinding journey where the past, present, and future collide. Unleashing the power of cutting-edge technology and rich cultural heritage, it delivers a truly unparalleled spectacle, leaving a lasting impression on all who experience it.
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Asia Times
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I study how pop music has served as a tool of soft power, and I've spent the past several years researching Teng's music and its legacy. I've found that Teng's influence endures not just because of her voice, but also because her music transcends Asia's political fault lines. Born in 1953 in Yunlin, Taiwan, Teresa Teng grew up in one of the many villages that were built to house soldiers and their families who had fled mainland China in 1949 after the Communists claimed victory in the Chinese civil war. Her early exposure to traditional Chinese music and opera laid the foundation for her singing career. By age 6, she was taking voice lessons. She soon began winning local singing competitions. 'It wasn't adults who wanted me to sing,' Teng wrote in her memoir. 'I wanted to sing. As long as I could sing, I was happy.' At 14, Teng dropped out of high school to focus entirely on music, signing with the local label Yeu Jow Records. 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But the political divide between China and Taiwan following the Chinese civil war had led to decades of hostility, with each side refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the other. During the late 1970s and 1980s, however, China began to relax its political control under Deng Xiaoping's Reform and Opening Up policy. This sweeping initiative shifted China toward a market-oriented economy, encouraged foreign trade and investment and cautiously reintroduced global cultural influences after decades of isolation. Pop music from other parts of the world began trickling in, including Teng's tender ballads. Her songs could be heard in coastal provinces such as Guangdong and Shanghai, inland cities such as Beijing and Tianjin, and even in remote regions such as Tibet. Shanghai's propaganda department wrote an internal memo in 1980 noting that her music had spread to the city's public parks, restaurants, nursing homes and wedding halls. 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When I was studying in the US, I often met Asian American students who belted out her songs at karaoke nights or during cultural festivals. Many had grown up hearing her music through their parents' playlists or local community celebrations. The release of her recently discovered song is a reminder that some voices do not fade – they evolve, migrate and live on in the hearts of people scattered across the world. In an age when global politics drive different cultures apart, Teng's enduring appeal reminds us of something quieter yet more lasting: the power of voice to transmit emotion across time and space, the way a melody can build a bridge between continents and generations. I recently rewatched the YouTube video for Teng's iconic 1977 ballad 'The Moon Represents My Heart.' As I read the comments section, one perfectly encapsulated what I had discovered about Teresa Teng in my own research: 'Teng's music opened a window to a culture I never knew I needed.' Xianda Huang is a PhD student in Asian languages and cultures, University of California, Los Angeles. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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