The science fiction opera "A Life in Codes" premiered in Shanghai in 2021. This is the first science fiction opera created in China by composer Hao Weiya, and also the second work in the "New Chinese Opera" series. Through a semi-staged production, it presents a new musical language to showcase the longing and imagination for the future of humanity. It allows the audience and creators to jointly reflect on life, love, and contemporary technology.

As the second science fiction opera to be staged at the 25th/26th Beijing Music Festival, "A Life in Codes" will be performed in a semi-staged version at the Zhongshan Park Music Hall on October 3, echoing the science fiction opera "Il mondo della luna". From landing on the moon to artificial intelligence, from Western classics to Chinese innovation, opera stage expands the boundaries of human imagination with music, showcasing our thoughts and explorations of the future, and highlighting the cultural genes of the Beijing Music Festival in promoting innovation in opera art.

Composer Hao Weiya said that the modified version of "A Life in Codes" to be performed this time will focus more on the future of humanity. It discusses the individual and social aspects under the blurred time and space, the game between AI and humans, and ultimately we have to lower our so-called "high" heads and humbly ask "who are we?" These basic questions. But instead of discussing AI as a tool, it discusses AI in ethics and emotions, breaking through the human spirituality and the self-righteousness of being the only child of the universe, and how to face powerful AI... He believes that only the power of music can express these concepts in "A Life in Codes".

As the first original science fiction opera in the "New Chinese Opera" series, "A Life in Codes" is full of novelty. The topic is novel, setting the story time in the future, trying to explore the future, the boundary between artificial intelligence and human relationships, and the essence of life and other philosophical propositions. The narrative method follows the viewing habits of Chinese audiences, and the dialogue conforms to the logic of the Chinese language. It does not rely too much on stage visual effects, but uses chamber music arrangements to question the loneliness and struggles of people in extreme environments in an abstract theme and a music style with a classic "atmosphere". The entire opera draws on some literary and musical classics and famous "atmospheres" in music history, such as Shakespeare, Richard Strauss's "Tod und Verklärung", Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun", etc. The creators believe in "the power of music" to create innovative contemporary opera.

The play mainly tells the story of an artist named Situ Rui (played by a baritone) who is trapped in a creative impasse and facing physical death at some point in the future. Li Yao (played by a soprano), a female scientist, uses artificial intelligence technology to fully "update" Situ Rui in order to save him. Chu Qiao (played by a mezzo-soprano), Situ Rui's lover, comes to visit him after receiving the news but cannot face him. She even doubts whether the new Situ Rui, who looks the same but is brand new, remembers and understands the love between them... The three of them tell the story of this meeting in their own language and with different understandings.

As director Yang Jingze said, opera art carries the weight of human civilization entering the present, and the next second of today is the future. Humans created AI in the past timeline, and the creators of the future are being created. Desire, salvation, subversion, destruction, and creation are both the answer and the puzzle. Each trigger of music and vision can stir up the praise of light. We are the survivors and guardians of opera art, nurturing, innovating, giving birth, and witnessing. This will be a play with a soul, and we look forward to witnessing our future together.

Performance information

Date: Tuesday, October 3rd, 7:30 pm

Venue: Zhongshan Music Hall

Composer: Hao Weiya

Librettist: Wang Yuanfei

Director/Set/Costume and Multi-media Design: Yang Jingze

Lighting Design: Qu Ming

Technical Director: Liu Minghao

Electronic Music Technical Support: Zhao Bo

Planning: Wei Lanfen

Creativity: Hao Weiya, Wei Lanfen, Yang Jingze, Wang Yuanfei, Lun Peng

Baritone: Zhou Zhengzhong

Mezzo-soprano: Dong Fang

Soprano: Li Jingjing

Piano: Zhao Zeming

Orchestra: Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Zhang Jiemin