Art for art's sake
The curtain closed on Saturday on this year’s Classic Chinese Opera Festival at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.
In its 11th year, the festival which started on March 11 showcased a total of 15 performances of traditional Chinese theater, including Kunqu Opera, Huju Opera and Shanghai farce.
It gathered many award-wining theater artists such as Kunqu performer Liang Guyin and Huju performer Mao Shanyu.
Half the tickets sold out quickly, officials said, including Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe’s “Pan Jinlian” and Shanghai Huju Opera Troupe’s “Thunderstorm.”
Some plays have also made crossover attempts. Ju Percussion Group’s “MuLan” combines Western-style percussion with Peking Opera.
Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe’s “White Sweater” and “Chivalrous Man,” produced by Taiwan writer and scholar Pai Hsien-yung, have also been newly adapted to cater for today’s audience.