The gorgeous scene above greeted us after a long day of rehearsals. There is something totally unique about rehearsing for a Christmas Holiday concert and then being able to take a long walk on the beach before meeting friends for dinner in an outdoor cafe. It is also hard to believe that I had to go to the other side of the globe to have this experience. On this beautiful day in December, the evening really became something to luxuriate in.
This is a picture of the stage of a large outdoor amphitheater. The enormous concave stone shell serves to project the dialogue of the actors on stage. This kind of outdoor setting is also suitable for music, particularly for Chinese opera. In front of the stage is hedge row and in front of the hedge is a water-filled basin. Right now the only performers (and audience members) appear to be the white pigeons.
These bells are part of the most ancient of musical practices in Chinese culture. Music began to play an important role in Chinese society more than 7,000 years ago, and was practiced by young and old, amateur and professional, and is intricately connected to many types of rituals and practices. The bells pictured above are tuned to the specific notes of the Chinese scale and known for their purity and clarity. (picture courtesy of Huang Jiaru)