‘Imperial Bells’ to Ring in Orange County

The ancient music and dance of the Chinese Imperial Court will be re-created at the Orange County Performing Arts Center today and Sunday in a 10-act show called “The Imperial Bells of China.” Sixty-five of the 200 members of the Hubei Song and Dance Ensemble, the official performance troupe in the central China province of Hubei, will wind up a two-month tour of the United States with the two shows here.

(Shows in Los Angeles and Oxnard were to follow the Orange County performances, but they have been canceled. A press spokesman blamed the cancellations on poor advance ticket sales and said that the student-led demonstrations in Beijing for increased freedom were not a factor.)

“Imperial Bells of China” was inspired by the discovery of more than 10,000 artifacts, including 120 ancient instruments, during an archeological dig in Hubei province in 1978. A tomb of a Chinese nobleman, Marquis Yi, was found “and in the chamber, 64 bells were discovered, along with drums, string harps, and chimes,” said Richard Lukens, president of Los Angeles-based China Business Management, which is producing the touring show.

The bronze bells are thought to be the oldest fixed-pitched instruments ever found.

Weighing as much as 600 pounds and as tall as 5 feet, the bells are on display in a museum in the Wuhan area of China and regarded by the Chinese as one of the wonders of the world, Lukens said. “The troupe felt it was their duty to re-create this ancient music.”

But this was no easy task. The ensemble began researching and developing the show eight years ago and it took three years to complete the groundwork. In addition, each musician designed and constructed his own instrument, modeled after the original.

The end result is a re-creation of “the cultural, political and social life of the Chinese people 2,400 years ago,” Lukens said.

The entire show is in Chinese except for recorded commentaries by actor Gregory Peck, who provides descriptions of each scene and translations of the ancient poetic lyrics.

Peck is a longtime supporter of cultural exchange between the East and West. His interest in the show was sparked during a trip to China a year and a half ago, when he saw a documentary in Shanghai about the bells.

“I was fascinated and completely taken,” Peck said. “It was a new vision into Chinese song. I offered to provide an English translation of the film and submit it to the Academy (of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) in the documentary category. But the show was even better,” he said.

“It’s just a glimpse into the artistry and creativity of the Chinese, drawing on ancient culture, poetry, and folk tales.”

Lukens, former international director of Live Aid, became interested in continuing his involvement with cross-cultural exchange events while working on Live Aid in Beijing. While there, he met his future wife and co-producer of the show, Erin Wang-Lukens, the daughter of a Chinese official.

“I wanted to produce some sort of Chinese show in the United States, and the Minister of Culture showed me some of the shows available. I thought this troupe was special.”

With the help of Wang’s family connections with the Ministry of Culture and the Chinese government, Lukens brought “Imperial Bells of China” to the United States, continuing his commitment to help bring countries together through the arts, he said.

Lui Youcai, one of two leaders of the ensemble, is thrilled with the American audience’s response to the show.

“They love it, but we have much to learn about America outside of performing here,” Lui said.

The music director of the troupe, Peng Xian Cheng, welcomed the opportunity to tour the United States: “It’s on the other side of the earth. We are used to the crowds of China, and America is a great big land.

“This type of cultural exchange is important,” he said, adding he hopes to introduce the show all over the world. “This kind of tour shows friendship between the countries.”