"Semele" stands as a unique project from the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels. In 2009, they embarked on a daring venture by inviting Zhang Huan, a renowned contemporary Chinese artist with no prior experience in opera, to direct Handel's musical drama "Semele". Zhang Huan, in turn, enlisted Weidong as his behind-the-scenes collaborator, deeply engaging in every aspect of the opera's production, from conceptualization to stage design and multimedia video creation.
The project's pinnacle moment came with the appropriation of a 400-year-old house frame from China, which was placed onstage at the Royal Opera House in Brussels. As the curtain rose, the front-row audience was enveloped in the scent of century-old camphor wood. Adding to the authenticity, the mistress of this ancient house graced the stage, her own story mirroring the love-hate plot of Semele.
The performance garnered immense success, capturing the attention of major mainstream media outlets worldwide. Subsequently, it embarked on a tour, captivating audiences in New York, Toronto, Beijing, and Shanghai.
SEMELE STAGE / THE THEATRE DE LA MONNALE IN BRUXELLES / STAGE DESIGN DRAWINGS
MUSIC SHOW QINGCHENG
SEMELE/THE THEATRE DE LA MONNALE IN BRUXELLES
WEIDONG AND THE MAIN CREATIVE TEAM ARE IN BRUSSELS
