RIYADH, Nov 29 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabia’s Wadi AlFann, or “Valley of the Arts,” started its artistic and cultural programme with the world premiere of live-action performance of “Nine Songs” over the weekend.
Wadi AlFann is a new global cultural destination for contemporary art, covering 65 square km in the desert of AlUla, north-western Saudi Arabia.
“Nine Songs” is inspired by a set of poems, which constitute a section of Chu Ci (Songs of Chu), an ancient anthology of Chinese romantic poetry from the 1st century BC.
“I am often fascinated by the story of our ancestors… and it’s been a really interesting process to bring this Chinese perspective to the Arab world this time,” Chinese American music artist Rui Fu, also the creator and leading actress of the performance, said, after the premiere.
Invited by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the performance brought a world-class ensemble of performers from across the globe, such as China, Japan, Britain, India and the United States.
“‘Nine Songs’ is a homage to the age-old artistic tradition, which is why the ancient land of AlUla is a powerful place for its premiere,” said Nora Aldabal, executive director of arts and creative industries, at the RCU.
Touching on themes of ancestry, civilisation and humanity, “Nine Songs” resonated deeply with people from across the world, regardless of culture, language or background, said Fu.
Impressed by the appreciative audience in AlUla, Fu said, it is wonderful to see how the Saudi people became interested in and were moved by a Chinese story, even though it has many different elements from different cultures.
Following its premiere in AlUla, the performance will go on to the most prestigious arts festivals around the world, including London, New York, Edinburgh, Shanghai, Berlin and Athens.– NNN-SPA
