Red Poppy

Red Poppy is an all female percussion group from China.[1] They are the first all-female percussion band from China.[2] The percussion ensemble includes twenty full-time performers.[3] Red Poppy uses over forty different types of Chinese and Western percussion instruments.[4] They have performed in over 50 countries and were involved in the Beijing Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.[2]

For other uses, see Red poppy.

History

Red Poppy was founded in 1999.[3] Manager Zhou Li says that the name "Red Poppy" was chosen because it was considered both "beautiful and powerful."[5] Red Poppy started with one member and has expanded after the success of the first performance in Europe.[6] One of their first original songs dating back to 1999, is called "Chinese Dragon" and includes both Western and Chinese influences.[2] They came to national attention in China when they performed in 2001 on China Central Television (CCTV) for the Spring Festival Party.[7]

In 2005, Red Poppy performed during the five-day Chinese New Year festival held in Dublin's Chinatown.[8]

In 2008, Red Poppy performed for the Beijing Olympics in the opening and closing ceremonies. They also recorded ahead of time in Sydney for Channel 7.[9] In June 2008, the group performed in Amman.[10]

In January 2013, Red Poppy performed on Broadway, showcasing their original take on the story of Hua Mulan in "Mulan the Musical."[2] The version of the Mulan story presented by Red Poppy involves pantomime, dance and percussion.[11] Due to popular demand, Red Poppy returned to Broadway again in 2014.[12] Red Poppy toured Scotland[6] and performed in London in 2015.[13]

Critical reception

Tim Page, writing in The Washington Post, called a 2005 performance "diluted" by "insipid synth-pop."[14] Page, however, did praise the skill of the musicians themselves, saying that they "rattled, roared, pounced and parried in high style."[14]

A 2013 performance at New York's Peter Jay Sharp Theater was well-reviewed, with The New York Times reviewer only complaining about some of the visuals incorporated into the performance.[11]

References
  1. "Red Poppy Gains Wide Acclaim in the US". People's Daily Online. 8 October 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  2. "Female Musicians Wow Audiences from Broadway to Beijing". Beijing International. The Beijing Government. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  3. "Red Poppy Ladies' Percussion". Wu Promotion. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  4. "Introduction to Red Poppy Ladies' Percussion". China Culture. Archived from the original on 13 March 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  5. Bourne, Christopher (26 December 2012). "'Mulan the Musical' Press Conference". Asian in NY. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  6. Apter, Kelly (24 February 2015). "Mulan the Musical: China's only female percussion group presents new show". The List. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  7. "The Cream of China's Girl Bands". China Culture. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  8. Kelly, Olivia (10 February 2005). "Five-Day Chinese Festival Begins in Dublin". Irish Times. Retrieved 31 December 2015 – via EBSCO.
  9. Lalak, Alex (3 March 2008). "Red Poppy Hits an Olympics Crescendo". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 December 2015 – via EBSCOhost.
  10. "China's 'Red Poppy' Blossoms in Jordon". Xinhua Net. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  11. Jaworowski, Ken (28 December 2012). "A Female Warrior's Exploits, Blow by Blow". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  12. "The Red Poppy Ladies to Return to NYC with Mulan the Musical". Broadway World. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  13. "Mayor of London Welcomes London's Chinese New Year Celebrations". States News Service. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
  14. Page, Tim (8 October 2005). "Red Poppy's Pound-Foolish Percussion". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
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