Going gaga over German musicals

One of the most successful German musicals, Elisabeth, has kicked off a new tour of China with 21 shows at the Shanghai Culture Square from Aug 29 to Sept 15.

The musical will go on to play at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing from Sept 18 to 22, and at Guangzhou Opera House in Guangdong province from Sept 26 to 30.

Elisabeth, with lyrics by Michael Kunze and music by Sylvester Levay, premiered in Vienna in 1992. It has been performed more than 9,000 times, with shows attended by more than 12 million people in 14 countries. Based on the story of Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie (1837-98), Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, it portrays a new-age queen fighting for freedom against suffocating imperial court life.