Mention the Ewenki, a minority group that lives in the mountains of northern Heilongjiang, to a Beijinger, and you’re likely to evoke images of a remote, slightly mysterious tribe that no one knows much about. In the new musical, Aoluguya, Ewenki musicians Wu Ri Na and Buren Bayaer—already well known for their Mongolian song “Chandman Erdene”—aim to correct this lack of awareness by bringing their music and dance traditions to the stage for a performance that details Ewenki life. The only minority in China to raise reindeer, the Ewenki have a rich artistic tradition. To find out more about this, Wu Ri Na and Buren Bayaer travelled to meet the last chieftess of the Ewenki tribe, a 90-year-old woman, for inspiration. Based on what she told them about the Ewenki’s ancient traditions, Wu and Buren created a tale of two lovers that features tuya, a special type of Ewenki throat singing, as well as Ewenki instruments such as the whistle, munnharp and suman drums. The lead will be played by Ewenki performer A Li Ma.

DETAILS:

What: Aoluguya

Where: Poly Theatre, Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie, 东直门南大街14号保利大厦

When: August 27 to 29, 7:30pm

Tel: 6417-7845, 400-610-3721

Tickets: ¥80-880, available from www.piao.com.cn