UNESCO facilitators experience magic of Kunqu Opera

2018-07-04   Source:China Daily

Artists perform The Peony Pavilion: The Dream in the Garden to show the magic of Kunqu Opera to audiences. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

As part of the Training of Trainers Workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage for Facilitators from the Asia-Pacific Region, which was held from July 2 to 6 in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, UNESCO facilitators made a field visit to learn more about Kunqu Opera, one of the Chinese traditional opera forms, on July 3.

At the activity, facilitators enjoyed art show The Peony Pavilion: The Dream in the Garden written by Tang Xianzu, a great dramatist of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The art show follows Du Liniang, who had always lived in her own room. Once she strolled through the garden, the sight of beautiful spring scenery touched the young lady's heart. When she went back to her room, she fell asleep and dreamed she encountered and was romanced by a young scholar. When she woke up, she could not resist thinking about the young man.

The art show was performed by Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe, established in 1956 as the earliest professional Kunqu Opera troupe in China. Kunqu Opera, or kunqu in Chinese, is one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera still being performed today.

Artists perform The Peony Pavilion: The Dream in the Garden to show the magic of Kunqu Opera to audiences. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Regarded as the "ancestor of Chinese opera", Kunqu Opera is a national treasure in China. It boasts gorgeous arias, elegant monologues, exquisite performances and ethereal dances. In the late Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the opera came into being in Suzhou city and was announced among the first group for the Oral and Intangible Culture Heritage list by UNESCO in 2001.

The training session was co-organized by the UNESCO and International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO and supported by the Zhejiang Department of Culture. As of June 2018, a total of 32 training sessions have been held, covering 33 countries and benefiting more than 1,027 people.

An artist performs The Peony Pavilion: The Dream in the Garden to show the magic of Kunqu Opera to audiences. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

An artist performs The Peony Pavilion: The Dream in the Garden to show the magic of Kunqu Opera to audiences. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Artists perform The Peony Pavilion: The Dream in the Garden to show the magic of Kunqu Opera to audiences. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Artists perform The Peony Pavilion: The Dream in the Garden to show the magic of Kunqu Opera to audiences. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

UNESCO facilitators and officials take a group photo onstage with performers on July 3, 2018. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

A trainee reads materials on Kunqu Opera. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

A trainee reads materials on Kunqu Opera. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Trainees talk about Kunqu Opera with each other. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]