Spotlight

Performances Information Peking opera and Kunqu opera performances pass down the quintessential aspects of Chinese culture. "The flourishing arts-Peking opera and Kunqu opera performances," organized by the Art Centre of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles in conjunction with Kunqu troupes and Peking troupes and traditional opera academy, is a continuation of last year's Peking opera festival. The Peking opera and Kunqu opera will be unveiled on March17 at The Cultural Palace of Nationalities. The performances will last 21days, and during these performances the top artists will present unexpected highlights to traditional opera fans. It will be a good chance to let traditional opera fans get close to the National Palace, as well as Chinese culture. The first cooperation of Peking opera and Kunqu opera From March17 to April6, joint performances will be staged by a number of groups, including: the Shanghai kunqu troupe, the northern Kunqu Theater, the Yongjia Kunqu troupe, the Suzhou Kunqu opera theater of Jiangsu province, the Zhejiang Kunqu opera troupe, the Hunan Kunqu opera troupe, The National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts, the Secondary school affiliated to The National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts, the China Peking Opera Theater, and the Beijing Professional College of Traditional Opera will give joint performances. As organizer Yujunjiang said, the Peking opera and Kunqu opera are the creme of Chinese culture. This cooperation between Peking opera and Kunqu opera is not just a coincidence, as Peking opera itself includes some components that are the same as Kunqu opera. Thus, it is not strange that these two different genres of opera will be performed on the same stage. Yet, it is also a remarkable first joint performance of the two operas. It is believed that this cooperation will present wonderful scenes to the traditional opera fans in Beijing. What's more, it will help the traditional opera flourish. Fresh faces in classic operas The cast of the Peking opera and Kunqu opera performances is composed of outstanding young actors, many of whom are not familiar to audiences, but who excel in their field and have won many awards in various traditional opera competitions. They will put their superb skills on display in their performances, and challenge themselves to take responsibility for the development of Peking opera and Kunqu opera.