NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Christiane Noll's Beijing Travels and Historic Temple ConcertChristiane Noll - ever the busy traveler - recently shared photos from her concert trip to the Czech Republic. To cap off the summer, the in-demand soprano performed as part of a historic Aug. 24 concert at Beijing's Temple of Heaven.
By
Matthew Blank
August 25, 2010
Staged as part of "Audi on Stage Music Week," the East Meets West concert also featured baritone Doug LaBrecque, Tony Award winner Debbie Gravitte and famed pianist Lang Lang.
Randall Craig Fleischer conducted the China Philharmonic Orchestra in a program of musical theatre favorites. Lang Lang, heralded as the "hottest artist on the classical music planet" by the New York Times, delivered Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and joined the vocalists on a rendition of "I Got Rhythm."
This concert of American standards held particular historical significance. The Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings erected in the 15th century, and it is only on very rare occasions that the Beijing municipal government allows its use as a performance space.
Of the experience, Noll says, "I was stunned that we were singing at the Temple of Heaven. I had visited that amazing place years ago as a tourist. To find myself there again under these circumstances was overwhelming!"
Amidst a busy schedule of rehearsal, performance and touring such landmarks as the Great Wall, the 2010 Tony Award nominee snapped photos along the way to share with Playbill.com readers:
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Christiane Noll: Beijing Travels and Historic Temple Concert
Christiane Noll: Beijing Travels and Historic Temple Concert
Christiane Noll - ever the busy traveler - recently shared photos from her concert trip to the Czech Republic. To cap off the summer, the in-demand soprano performed as part of a historic Aug. 24 concert at Beijing's Temple of Heaven, along with Debbie Gravitte, Doug LaBrecque and superstar...
30 PHOTOS
Welcome to Beijing, China!!
Christiane Noll
Lang Lang on a billboard across the street from our hotel.
Christiane Noll
The view from my hotel room at the Swissotel Beijing.
Christiane Noll
Our hotel.
Christiane Noll
There is still some traditional architecture left.
Noll's major theatrical credits include Urinetown, Mambo Kings, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues, Jekyll & Hyde,Grease, Miss Saigon,City of Angels, South Pacific and Witches of Eastwick. She was nominated for a 2010 Tony for her performance as Mother in Ragtime.
