Opera festival set to hit the high notes

The festival is a carnival as it will showcase many traditional classic repertoires such as Pu Opera Xue Gang Opposing the Imperial Court, and the Shaoxing Opera The Monkey King's Three Beats. In addition, some of the dramas have brought unique regional characteristics, such as Guangxi's Maonan Opera Combine Hearts with Hearts, and Yunnan's Kunming Opera Heroes. In terms of actors, 10 plays are to be led by 12 Plum Blossom Award (the highest theatrical award in China) actors, including Li Shujian, the two-time winner of the award in Henan Opera Cheng Ying Saves the Orphans.

Feng Huiqing, deputy director of Kunshan Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, believes their role as both the planner and implementer of the festival for three consecutive years has helped them expand a considerable popular base, on which they aim to meet higher standards.

"All the plays that participated this time were selected by experts and scholars after conducting a census of China's regional operas for more than two years. This is the third time that the rich forms of China's multiple opera types will be fully displayed, and it is a great innovation as we focus on presenting the new beauty of Chinese operas," Feng says.

"The southern and northern tunes gather in the birthplace of kunqu Opera, one of the earliest traditional Chinese drama, showing the vigor and prosperity of excellent traditional culture in the new era."

Feng reveals that a closing ceremony of the festival will also be held in late November, bringing together well-known contemporary opera artists to perform.

"There are many unforgettable stories during the entire event every year, and it's not easy to actually achieve a reunion. Many of the 348 types of dramas are constantly on the brink of extinction. And our festival can promote the endangered operas with our special funds, as well as attracting the support of the local government for that particular opera, especially in poverty-stricken regions to survive," Feng adds.

"The pandemic this year coupled with the transportation and weather conditions in some flood-hit regions have caused extra problems. We keep hearing various stories such as some troupes, under the efforts of their entire villagers, raise transportation fees household by household, break through many obstacles and overcoming many difficulties, and finally manage to make to our stage. The reunion is actually the final result of everyone's concerted efforts and hard work."