ROBERT WILSON |
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1433 The Grand Voyage |
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A music theater work inspired by the story of Admiral Zheng He Between 1405 and 1433, the Ming government sponsored a series of seven naval expeditions, in which Admiral Zheng He (a high ranking court eunuch) led a fleet of several hundred huge treasure ships (each ship housing up to 500 men). His voyages were intended to establish a Chinese presence, impose imperial control over trade, and impress foreign peoples throughout Arabia, East Africa, India, Indonesia and Thailand. During their travels, they dispensed and received goods along the way. Zheng He presented gifts of gold, silver, porcelain and silk; in return, China received such novelties as ostriches, zebras, camels, ivory and giraffes. 1433: the Grand Voyage is a parable based on the 7th and final voyage. It is a poetic vision of a man who due to his position and his emasculation is fundamentally alone. |
As it begins, Zheng He has completed 6 voyages, the Yongle emperor who sent him on these journeys has died, and the new emperor is not interested in further exploration. Suddenly, the new emperor changes his mind and commissions a 7th voyage. This production oscillates between past and present as Zheng He and his colleagues set out on what is to be their final voyage, at the same time remembering the 6 previous explorations. Loosely based on extant historical texts, 1433 counterpoints the highly structured drumming and the strong physical performance of the U Theater with the free jazz of American greats Ornette Coleman and Dickie Landry. Rather than an attempt to reiterate history, 1433 is Robert Wilson’s poetic vision of one man’s lonely search for peace and reconciliation.
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PRODUCTION DATES
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