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北京大学英语新闻网/Peking University News
Kunqu Opera Premiere at PKU,
National Campus Tour
PKU NEWS 2005—4-6
http://ennews.pku.edu.cn/news.php?s=112946713
Peking University, Beijing, Apr. 6th: The new version of the Kunqu Opera "The
Peony Pavilion" will be performed at PKU from April 8th to 10th, one scene every
day. Bai Xianyong (Pai Hsien-yung), producer and professor of California University
and Ye Lang, PKU professor of the arts department both considered the Kunqu
Opera performance at university as an important move to cultivate young audience
and inherit the Chinese traditional arts, which is on the verge of extinction.
The rewritten ―Peony Pavilion, A New Generation'‖ Since its debut in Taiwan, it has
had sell out shows in Hong Kong, Suzhou, Beijing and Shanghai, attracting many
young people, especially college students. 'Peony Pavilion' is considered one of the
best works of Chinese Romanism literature, and has been a classic in Kunqu Opera
for more than 400 years. To make is accessible and relevant more people Bai
Xianyong, who once said that he was a volunteer worker of Kunqu Opera, dedicated
himself to this re-interpretation of 'Pony Pavilion'. It has been performed at university
campus allowing students the chance to experience this uniquely Chinese art form.
Bai Xianyong once said, "I hope to sow the seed of loving Kunqu Opera in these
young people's minds. One day perhaps they can produce Kunqu Opera, just like
me, or at least they can become devoted audience of Kunqu Opera". Because of Bai
Xianyong and people like him, Kunqu Opera can be experienced by more people as
part of the revival of the fascinating Chinese cultural tradition.
Professor Bai gives the top priority to the Kunqu Opera performance at campus in
terms of its rejuvenation. The rewritten play has got warm welcome in Taiwan,
Macao, HK, and mainland cities. Suzhou University, the debut in mainland, saw
26oo audiences, 60% of which are the first time to see this art. Since the success in
Suzhou, the birth place of Kunqu, the troop attracted more attention, especially the
young ones. ―The Peony Pavilion made the audience of Kunqu Opera younger by 30
years,‖ Beijing Morning Post commented. Since its debut in Taiwan, it has had sell
out shows in Hong Kong, Suzhou, Beijing and Shanghai, attracting many young
people, especially college students.
Bai said the good feedback meant youth former habit ―hard to accept the traditional
plays‖ and has greatly encouraged him to do his volunteer work of Kunqu Opera,
dedicated himself to the preservation of precious arts. The next step in his work is to
sow the seed of loving Kunqu Opera in these young people's minds. The college
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