[Photo provided to China Daily]

Since she moved to New York in 1999, Qian has been exploring Western theater, working with directors such as Meredith Monk and Karin Coonrad.

"Qian told me that after various kinds of artistic experiments, especially her attempts to do Western art forms, such as contemporary dance and music, she returns to her roots as a Kunqu Opera actress, which is so much like my artistic path," says Ma.

Speaking of her role, Qian says: "Singing is the most challenging part. Paradise Interrupted is an opera, not a Kunqu opera. So either the way to present it or the aesthetic direction is different."

Qian also says that she was only 24 years old when she performed in the 19-hour production of The Peony Pavilion.

"My understanding of Kunqu Opera and myself was totally different from today.

"Actually, I knew nothing about myself. I was just carefully presenting what my teacher had taught me. Now I look at myself from different angles, and I am trying to understand myself," says Qian.

According to Ma, the opera, which took her three years to finish, is also a process of knowing herself.

At the end of Ma's opera, the woman ultimately breaks free from all her desires in a pool of Chinese ink, which enables her to freely paint any world she imagines.

"It's a paradise we've been pursuing. Only you can decide what you want to paint," says Ma.