Golden Lotus
Golden Lotus Film Poster
Music	George Chiang
Lyrics	George Chiang
Book	George Chiang
Basis	Jin Ping Mei (The Golden Lotus)
Premiere	September 12, 2014: Y-Theatre, Hong Kong
Productions	2014 Hong Kong
Awards	Full list

Golden Lotus is a musical written and composed by George Chiang. The musical is based on the classic 17th century Chinese novel Jin Ping Mei (The Golden Lotus). Set amidst the dying, war-torn years of Song Dynasty China, the musical tells the story of the beautiful Golden Lotus (Pan Jinlian) whose desire for true love leads her into a blood-soaked web of passion, deception and desperation with the valiant tiger slayer Wu Sung, the rich and powerful Xi Men (Ximen Qing) and the humble peddler Wu Da (Wu Dalang). Betwixt a story of political satire, a doomed love story, and an epic tale of heroism, therein lies also a story of a woman's transformation and her eventual path to redemption.^[1][2]

Development

Golden Lotus was the first Canadian musical to participate in the prestigious ASCAP Foundation/Disney Theatrical Productions Musical Theatre Workshop in New York City during March and April 2003, with artistic direction by Stephen Schwartz. The three-week workshop included two live performances by a cast of sixteen performers which included Harriet Chung as Golden Lotus, Timothy Huang as Wu Sung, Jovanni Sy as Xi Men, Alan Ariano as Wu Da, Telly Leung as the Fruit Peddler and Scott Watanabe (who also served as the music director) as the District Intendant.^[3][4]

Production

On September 12, 2014, Golden Lotus premiered in Hong Kong at the Y-Theatre with a cast of twenty-six performers. The production featured Harriet Chung as the title character, Boon Ho Sung as Wu Sung, and Ronan Pak Kin Yan as Ximen.  Also featured were Billy Sy as Wu Da, Samantha Fa as Madam Wang, Scott Watanabe as the District Intendant, Marc Ngan as the Fruit Peddler and Soraya Chau as Ping. Emily Chan directed the production, with music arrangements by George Gao, choreography by Ivy Chung, and set & costume design by Moe Mo^[1][5][6][2] The musical's score, blending pop rock and Chinese music traditions, received unanimous praise from Hong Kong critics^[7][8] Its signature pop love song, "A World Away," was particularly applauded.^[7][8] The production was recognized with three Hong Kong English Drama Award nominations for Best Show, Best Actress [Harriet Chung] and won for Best Original Work.^{[9][10][11][12][13]}The musical's innovative approach and captivating performances have left a lasting impression on theater enthusiasts and received accolades from both local and international critics.^[8][7][2][1]

Musical film

The Hong Kong production of Golden Lotus was recorded live during four consecutive performances and later edited into a feature-length film. Released in September 2021, the film has been showcased at film festivals worldwide and has received critical acclaim. Critics have praised the musical's exceptional music and the actors' flawless singing, which enhances their performances.^[14] The film has garnered numerous awards globally, cementing its status as a cultural phenomenon with mesmerizing choreography and captivating physical performances.^{[13][15][12][16]}

Recordings

Golden Lotus: Sounds From The Musical was released on May 31, 2015. It is a CD consisting of 15 songs from the musical as they appeared in the Hong Kong world premiere. Recorded in Toronto with Harriet Chung as Golden Lotus, Charles Azulay as Wu Sung, Thom Allison as Xi Men, George Chiang as Wu Da, Stacey-Lea Marhue as Madam Wang, Scott Watanabe as the District Intendant, Pierre Bayuga as the Fruit Peddler and Josette Jorge as Ping. Music directed by Tim Stiff. Vocal arrangements by Tim Stiff. Music arrangements by George Gao.^[17]

A single of the signature pop ballad from Golden Lotus, "A World Away", was recorded by Harriet Chung. The song was newly arranged by Warren Robert who also conducted the live orchestra for the recording. Both the single and its music video were dropped on August 25, 2020 as A World Away (Remix). The single won for Best Original Song at the Hollywood Gold Awards and has won over a dozen Best Music Video awards. Chung's performance in the music video also garnered Chung a Best Actress award by the Only The Best International Film Awards in Miami.^[18]

Musical numbers

Awards

References

External links

• Official website