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Perking Opera actors from Shanghai Peking Opera House perform in Jiading district of Shanghai on March 11. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn] |
Shanghai's Jiading Cultural Center staged a Peking Opera performance on March 11, offering local residents an opportunity to enjoy firsthand the charms of one of China's most valued cultural traditions.
The performance depicted famed stories of the relationship between Wu Zixu and Shen Baoxu which took place during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).
Wu and Shen grew up as friends but were eventually pitted against one another for the sake of their respective countries. The Spring and Autumn Period was one of chaos and warfare, which tested the friendship and forced the two individuals involved to make defining decisions about their respective futures.
However, the opera is more than a depiction of historical events; it vividly presents the importance and challenges of friendship and explores the value of humanity.
On March 10, a day before the performance, the scriptwriter along with several members of the cast were on hand to give a lecture that helped brief the audience on a number of important elements related to Peking Opera.
Peking Opera, known in Mandarin as jingju, is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, singing, mime, dance, and acrobatics. The subject matter of Peking Opera varies greatly but common themes include histories, politics, and romances.
Jiading's cultural authorities hope to offer the general public an increasing number of such artistic opportunities in the future.