International sensation and cherished British singer and actress Sarah Brightman, famed for her ethereal voice and for creating roles such as Jemima in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats and Christine Daaé in Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, will be performing in Beijing at the end of this month as part of the ongoing world tour for another Lloyd Webber musical: Sunset Boulevard. After spending 20 years as a star on Broadway and the West End, she transitioned into a remarkable career as a groundbreaking classical crossover artist, solidifying her status as the world’s top-selling soprano. Brightman is well acquainted with China, having toured and performed there numerous times over the years, most famously during the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony, where she performed that year’s Olympic theme song, “You and Me,” alongside Chinese singer Liu Huan.
In Sunset Boulevard, the story intertwines the lives of Norma Desmond, a fading star from the silent film era mourning her lost greatness, and Jack Gillis, a desperate screenwriter facing challenges in his career, within this dark narrative of love, yearning, and delusion inspired by the 1950 film of the same name. Previous versions of the musical have earned multiple Tony and Olivier awards, though its position in musical theatre history is complex.
For this production, which marks the China premiere of the show, Sarah Brightman returns to the musical theatre stage after a three-decade hiatus, taking on the role of Norma Desmond, first performed by the iconic Patti LuPone in London’s West End. At 64, the Brightman currently on stage is understandably a different performer, especially vocally, from the one who captured attention with youthful roles in the '80s and '90s. Benson Ang of The Straits Times offered an emotionally perceptive review, noting, “Her present vocal condition seems a mere echo of her past brilliance, with an added note of sorrow and loss. Nonetheless, this imbues her performance with a dark, self-referential quality, whether intentional or not.” In his critique, Ang draws parallels between Brightman at this stage of her career and the character of Norma Desmond, asserting, “In a peculiar sense, Brightman’s casting is ideal. It reflects an actress’s profound maturity to embrace a role that seems to mirror her own journey, in a musical whose score was composed by her former husband. A more thoughtful performer might shy away from such direct comparisons with their past self.”
Musical theatre enthusiasts, particularly those who admire Sarah Brightman and wish to see her perform live, will find this production appealing. There is still time to purchase tickets; see the contact information on the poster below or reserve through an app like Damai. Besides Beijing, the tour of Sunset Boulevard will also make stops in Shanghai, Wuhan, and Shenzhen.
Venue: BPAC – Opera House
Language: English
Date & Time: Mar 27-30, Apr 3-6, Apr 10-13: 7:30 PM; Mar 29-30, Apr 5-6, Apr 12-13: 2:30 PM
Price: RMB 180-1,380
Booking: Call 66550000, visit www.chncpa.org, scan the QR code on the poster, or search 日落大道 in your preferred event-booking app.
Beijing Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) – Opera House
Buildings 1 & 2, Courtyard 1, Lüxin Lu, Tongzhou District
通州区绿心路1号院1号楼、2号楼
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Images: courtesy of the venue
Sarah Brightman is back in Beijing to headline Andrew Lloyd Webber's infamous musical.