Golden Lotus (musical)

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Golden Lotus
Golden Lotus Film Poster
MusicGeorge Chiang
LyricsGeorge Chiang
BookGeorge Chiang
BasisJin Ping Mei (The Golden Lotus)
PremiereSeptember 12, 2014: Y-Theatre, Hong Kong
Productions2014 Hong Kong
AwardsFull 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[edit]

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]

Hong Kong World Premiere[edit]

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 production was embraced by the Hong Kong theater community and enthusiastically hailed Golden Lotus as "Hong Kong's First Musical."[7] The musical's innovative approach and captivating performances left a lasting impression on theater enthusiasts and received accolades from critics.[8][9][2][1] The musical's score, blending pop rock and Chinese music traditions, received unanimous praise from Hong Kong critics.[9][8] Its signature pop love song, "A World Away," was particularly applauded.[9][8]

The production was recognized with three Hong Kong English Drama Award nominations for Best Show, Best Actress [Harriet Chung] and won Best Original Work.[10][11][12][13][14]

Musical film[edit]

The Hong Kong production of Golden Lotus was captured live during four consecutive performances and later edited into a feature-length film. The film has been showcased at film festivals worldwide and has received critical acclaim, winning dozens of awards, including the Best Picture of the Festival at the World Independent Cinema Awards (WICA) in 2023. The achievement crowned the musical film as the “champion of champions” among the winners of Film Fest International’s 11 annual festivals across cities including London, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Broadstairs, Nice, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Antwerp, Birmingham, and Rome. Golden Lotus was selected as the standout film of the year and named the best film from all 11 festivals.[14]

Musical numbers[edit]

Albums[edit]

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.[15]

Track Listing - Golden Lotus: Sounds From The Musical
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Wu Sung Slayed the Tiger"Scott Watanabe4:07
2."Captain of the Guard"Chales Azulay2:17
3."Fresh Buns for Sale"
Lauren De Simon		1:43
4."Paradise"
2:15
5."Her Name Is Golden Lotus"Stacey-Lea Marhue2:45
6."As Each Day Goes By"
Charles Azulay		2:40
7."A World Away"
3:31
8."Purple Stone Street"Pierre Bayuga2:31
9."Clandestine Affair"Pierre Bayuga2:56
10."Does Anybody Here Know?"Charles Azulay, Pierre Bayuga3:04
11."Flag of Death"Charles Azulay
4:25
12."Waterlily Pavilion"Marisa Mclntyre, Katie Beetham, Leah Canali
2:34
13."a World Away"
2:21
14."Little Brother Mandarin"
Scott Watanabe, Josette Jorge		3:52
15."Destiny"Charles Azulay3:42
Total length:40:28

Golden Lotus: Sounds From The Musical (Deluxe Edition) was released on December 1, 2023 and features 4 additional tracks from the musical including When I Close My Eyes, Verdant Spring Bordello, Little Brother Mandarin (Reprise) and Lord of the Five Ways.[16][17]

Track Listing - Golden Lotus: Sounds From The Musical (Deluxe Album)
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Wu Sung Slayed the Tiger"Scott Watanabe
4:07
2."Captain of the Guard"Chales Azulay
2:17
3."Fresh Buns for Sale"
Lauren De Simon		1:43
4."When I Close My Eyes"
2:39
5."Verdant Spring Bordello"Stacey-Lea Marhue
4:10
6."Paradise"
2:15
7."Her Name Is Golden Lotus"Stacey-Lea Marhue
2:45
8."As Each Day Goes By"
Charles Azulay
2:40
9."A World Away"
3:31
10."Purple Stone Street"Pierre Bayuga
2:31
11."Clandestine Affair"Pierre Bayuga
2:56
12."Does Anybody Here Know?"Charles Azulay
3:04
13."Flag of Death"Charles Azulay
4:23
14."Waterlily Pavilion"Marisa Mclntyre
Katie Beetham, Leah Canali
2:34
15."a World Away (Reprise)"
2:16
16."Little Brother Mandarin"
Scott Watanabe, Josette Jorge		3:52
17."Little Brother Mandarin (Reprise)"Josette Jorge
0:30
18."Lord of the Five Ways"
4:46
19."Destiny"Charles Azulay
3:41
Total length:56:09

Singles[edit]

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. The single and its music video were dropped on August 25, 2020 as A World Away (Remix). The single won Best Original Song at the Hollywood Gold Awards.[18]

Harriet Chung recorded a solo version and music video of the signature duet from Golden Lotus, "As Each Day Goes By" on October 6, 2023. Critics applauded the single. Tinnitist called it "as smooth and beautiful as a full moon surrounded by stars, with an emotional vocal harmony draped like curtains across the sky at night." .[17] Radio Airplay called it "a delicate tapestry of musical finesse, weaves together beautiful vocals, sweeping strings, and the ethereal embrace of delicate harp and woodwind elements. It is an auditory oasis that transcends the ordinary, inviting listeners into a world of serene beauty and graceful artistry, and thanks to the thoroughly amiable and deeply sincere nature of Harriet's spellbinding vocal presence, you simply cannot help but be swept up off your feet mere moments into the track, resulting in yet another dazzling creative display."[19] The single and its music video won Best Original Song and Best Music Video at the International Gold Awards.[20]

Awards[edit]

Theatre awards and nominations received by Golden Lotus[edit]

Awards Year Category Result
Hecklers Awards 2015 Best Original Work Won
Best Actress Nomination
Best Show Nomination

Film awards and nominations received by Golden Lotus[edit]

Awards Year Category Result
World Class Film Awards[21] 2023 Best Producer Won
Best Acting Ensemble Won
World Independent Cinema Award[22] 2023 Best Picture of the Festival Won
Barcelona International Film Festival[23][24] 2022 Best Producer Won
Best Actress Won
Best Actor Honorable Mention
Best Costume Design Won
Canadian Cinematography Awards[25] 2022 Best Song Won
Best Original Score Won
Dreamz Catcher International Film Festival[26] 2022 Best Performing Arts Won
Best Actress Won
Film Fest International London[27][28] 2022 Jury Award Won
Best Hair & Makeup Won
Film Fest International Paris[29][30] 2022 Best Picture of the Festival Won
Outstanding Actress in an English Language Film Won
Film Fest International Rome[31] 2022 Best Director Won
Madrid International Film Festival[32] 2022 Best Original Score Won
Best Supporting Actress Won
Moscow Russia International Film Festival[6] 2022 Best Music Feature Won
Mykonos International Film Festival[33][34] 2022 Best Music Feature Film Won
Prague International Film Festival[35] 2022 Filmmaker of the Year Won
Best Original Score Honorable Mention
Best Editing Honorable Mention
Seoul International Monthly Film Festival 2022 Best Production Design Won
Amsterdam International Film Festival [4] 2021 Best Original Score Won
Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival[5] 2021 Best Art Film Won
Best Actor& Director Awards - New York 2021 Best Actress in a Musical[36] Won
Cinematic European Film Festival[37] 2021 Best Original Score Won
Filmmaker Life Awards[38] 2021 Best Musical Film Won
Best Film Score Composition Won
Best Female Filmmaker Nomination
Filmmaker Globe Award Nomination
Golden Sparrow International Film Festival[39] 2021 Best Original Score - Feature Film[40] Won
Hollywood Global Film Festival 2021 Best Musical Film[41] Won
Hollywood Gold Awards[42] 2021 Best Original Song Gold Winner
Best Producer Gold Winner
Best Costume Design Gold Winner
Best Hairstyling & Makeup Gold Winner
International Smyrna Movie Festival[43] 2021 Best Original Score Gold Winner
Best Art Director Silver Winner
London Movie Awards[44] 2021 Best Original Song Won
Megaflix Film Awards[45] 2021 Best Musical Film Platinum Award
Milan Gold Awards[46] 2021 Best Producer[47] Silver Award
Best Original Song[47] Silver Award
Munich Music Video Awards[48] 2021 Best Musical Feature Film[49] Won
Naples Film Awards[50] 2021 Best Original Score[51] Won
New York International Film Awards™ - NYIFA[52] 2021 Best Musical Film[53] Won
New York Movie Awards[54] 2021 Best Original Score Won
Best Costume Design Won
Makeup & Hairstyling Honorable Mention
Oniros Film Awards® - New York[55] 2021 Best Musical Film[56] Grand Jury Award
Only The Best Film Awards[57] 2021 Best Original Song or Score[58][59] Won
Best Musical | Short or Feature Film[58][59] Won
Best Actress[58][59] Special Award
Portugal International Film Festival[60] 2021 Honorable Mention Won[61]
Pure Magic Film Festival[62] 2021 Best Original Musical[63] Won
Best Original Song[63] Won
Best musical Score[63] Won
River Atreyee International Film Festival[9] 2021 Best Performing Art Won
San Diego Movie Awards[64] 2021 Best Original Music Won
Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival 2021 Honorable Mention Won
Virgin Spring Cinefest[65] 2021 Best Music Score[66] Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Review: "Golden Lotus The Musical", MADDBUZZHK, September 13, 2014
  2. ^ a b c Review- Golden Lotus, the Musical", hkeld.com, September 13, 2014
  3. ^ "Preview-Golden Lotus, the Musical". hkeld.com. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  4. ^ a b Woman Pursues Her Passion in Life and Dance, The Standard HK, September 10, 2014
  5. ^ a b Rebirth of an Epic Tale of Passion, The Standard HK, page 4, September 5, 2014
  6. ^ a b 身演出振雄風 白健恩生擒潘金蓮 He Was Born to Capture Golden Lotus, hd.stheadline.com, September 5, 2014
  7. ^ "Golden Lotus – The Musical: 'Hong Kong's First Musical'". madbuzzhk.com. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  8. ^ a b c 白健恩激情戲成重點 Ronan Pak Kin Yan's Passion Play, SING PAO, September 25, 2014
  9. ^ a b c d A Modern Interpretation of a Chinese Classic Tale, The Standard HK, p. 22 September 26, 2014
  10. ^ 白健恩主演音樂劇《金瓶梅》 獲《最佳原創作品獎》Ronan Pak Kin Yan starred in Golden Lotus which won the "Best Original Work" Award, Stars HK, September 8, 2015
  11. ^ "白健恩主演音樂劇《金瓶梅》獲《最佳原創作品獎》Ronan Pak Kin Yan starred in Golden Lotus Which Won the "Best Original Work" Award". a1c1.com.hk. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
  12. ^ And the winners are... HKELD.com, September 8, 2015
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  55. ^ Staff. "Home". Oniros Film Awards® - New York. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
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External links[edit]

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