“An Encounter with Chinese Culture” Jiangsu Week of Kunqu Opera opened Thursday evening in Paris, the capital of France under the sponsorship of the Information Office of the Provincial Government and the Provincial Association for Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union, and next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.
For the first time, Kunqu Opera was presented as a whole in the form of "Jiangsu Week" in Paris. Kunqu artists, with special respect and pride, showcased the first Kunqu Opera playwright, Liang Chenyu, to the French audience, as well as the philosophical ideas behind his creation of the first Kunqu Opera The Story of Washing Gauze.
“I am currently at the National Museum of Asian Art in Gimme, France. At 3 pm local time on September 13, the newly-choreographed Kunqu Opera Liang Chenyu in Ecstasy in the Night is being performed here, marking its first overseas debut and leading the French people to experience the charm of Kunqu as an intangible cultural heritage”, Gao Han, a staff reporter of JSBC, said.
Liang Chenyu in Ecstasy in the Night was created based on the life of Liang Chenyu, a famous playwright of the Ming Dynasty, who excelled in poetry and rhymes. After Wei Liangfu transformed the new voice of Kunqu Opera, Liang Chenyu was the first person to use the new Kunqu Opera to write a legendary script The Story of Washing Gauze. Liang Chenyu in Ecstasy in the Night presents Liang Chenyu's creative ideas, background, and thoughts on history, life, art, and reality on stage through the technique of combining reality and emptiness.
A square table stands on stage, with four actors showcasing the unique charm of five roles Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, and Chou. The leisurely Kunqu Opera resonates in the museum with a strong artistic temperament, and French audiences immerse themselves in the delicate and graceful style of the Kunqu Opera.
“This is the first time I have listened to Kunqu Opera, and it is shocking. From such a close distance, I can see the actors' performances and figures, which are very vivid and lively. I have also deeply experienced the charm of Chinese opera”, said Jean Michel Tobelem, Associate Professor at the University of Sorbonne.
“As a Chinese living in France, I hope that the traditional Chinese opera team can provide us with performances every year or every season. I also hope that the opera team and professional education team can stay in Europe for a long time, which can bring us a great spiritual feast”, Feng Tao, a Ph.D. student at the University of Lyon Lumiere in France, said.
In addition to conducting live exhibitions, classic repertoire tours, academic discussions, and exchanges will also be held during the Jiangsu Week of Chinese Kunqu Opera. Classic Kunqu segments such as Peony Pavilion and The Tale of the Sword: Flee by Night will also be staged in turns.
“The tickets have basically been sold out. I believe that French audiences will definitely love the Chinese Kunqu Opera. From our writing, our performances, our music, our costumes, and our dance beauty, we will showcase the charm of our traditional Chinese culture in all aspects”, Ke Jun, Chairman of Jiangsu Dramatists Association, Famous Kunqu Performing Artist, said.
