Curtain finally opens on Shanghai opera season
Shanghai Oriental Art Center will stage Kunqu Opera “Four Dreams in the Camellia Hall” from June 18 to 21 as its first commercial performance after the venue’s reopening.
The opera, presented by Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, was initially listed as the last show of the 12th Classic Chinese Opera’s Series, which had been scheduled at the art center from March 13 to April 26. However, the series had to be canceled after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Tale of Handan”
Based on Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu’s (1550-1616) major works, “Four Dreams in the Camellia Hall,” it comprises four classic tales: “The Tale of Handan,” “A Pair of Purple Hairpins,” “A Dream Under the Southern Bough” and “The Peony Pavilion.” They will be presented in that order in the four-day performance.
The year of 2020 marks the 470th birthday of Tang. It will be the first time for Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe to present the complete version of “Four Dreams in the Camellia Hall” in Shanghai, featuring both veteran and rising Kunqu Opera artists.
As a representative work of China’s Kunqu Opera, “Four Dreams in the Camellia Hall” staged 44 performances during its world tour in 2016, visiting countries like the US, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Germany. It also received an invitation from the Berlin International Music and Arts Festival in 2018, winning favorable recognition from European audiences.
“A Dream Under the Southern Bough”
“The Peony Pavilion”
Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe and its “Four Dreams in the Camellia Hall” received the Shanghai Magnolia Award for theater performance for their efforts in inheriting and promoting Kunqu Opera.
The performances will follow the audience number limitation policies. Shanghai Oriental Art Center has set aside 19 charity tickets for each performance which can be purchased for 60 yuan (US$8.40) by early birds.
Performance info
Date: June 18-20, 7:15pm; June 21, 2pm
Tickets: 60-480 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center
Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong New Area
