Musical puts spotlight on amazing love story

Chinese musical, Love Song, premiered at Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing with five shows from June 9-11.

Young singers, including Ai Boning, Kang Keran, Mi Chenchen and Li Mingyu, who have gained a large fan base among musical lovers, played leading roles. Over 40 students from Sichuan University of Culture and Arts also performed in the musical.

The musical was inspired by a Chinese song titled The Ali Mountain Girls, which became popular after it was performed by singer Xi Xiulan during the most-watched CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 1984.

The story of the musical follows the romantic love story between Chinese poet Deng Yuping (1923-85), who wrote the song's lyrics and his lover Bai Mei. Deng and Bai met in middle school and fell in love. They were separated during wartime and, in 1985, before Deng died, he received a recording of a Taiwan folk song, Gao Shan Qing (Green High Mountain), sent by Bai, who later moved to Taiwan. The same year, Bai died.

The musical was produced by Sichuan University of Culture and Arts and directed by veteran songwriter-director Jia Ding.

Acene from the musical Love Song. 

Acene from the musical Love Song.