Peking Opera feast kicked off in Bangkok

A Peking Opera performance.[Photo/Xinhua]

The "Face to Face with the Opera Masterpieces" event opened at the Chinese Cultural Center in Bangkok on Aug 23, aiming to introduce traditional Chinese opera to the Thai people and to promote fine, traditional Chinese culture. The event will last till September.

"Face to Face with the Opera Masterpiece" events are planned by the Chinese Ministry of Culture, supported by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand and jointly organized by the China National Peking Opera Company, Center of International Cultural Exchanges, the Chinese Cultural Center in Bangkok and the Thailand Cultural Promotion Committee. It counted as one of the topics of "Chinese Culture Collection Campaign", and Bangkok is the first stop for the special events.

This event includes excerpts of performances by the China National Peking Opera Company, cultural exhibitions, art lectures, digital film screenings and opera day. The famous excerpts were performed respectively at the Chinese Cultural Center in Bangkok on Aug 23 and at Thailand Srinakharinwirot University on Aug 26. "Chin's greatestLaosheng(middle-aged or older male character)" Yu Kuizhi, famousQingyi(young or middle-aged female character) Li Shengsu and other celebrities were dedicated to the performance ofDrunken Beauty,Monkey King,Farewell My Concubine,San Cha Kouand other classic repertoires, which brought a visual opera feast to the Thai people.

Yu Kuizhi, the vice president of China National Peking Opera Company, said: "Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang brought Peking Opera to the United States in the 1930s. During the past decades, the Peking Opera performers were all trying to exchange Chinese culture to the world through Peking Opera. This year, they brought Peking Opera to Thailand."

"As China's economy continues to develop, more and more foreigners are willing to know Chinese culture, and Peking Opera offers a good way" to learn, he added. "Peking Opera should go out, and it can go out."

"Encyclopedia of Chinese culture - Peking Opera Exhibition" opened at the Chinese Cultural Center in Bangkok on Aug 23 and will close on Sept 1. The exhibition will present to audiences the aesthetic features of opera in the form of graphics, objects and images.

China's famous Peking Opera artist Jiang Qihu gave a Peking Opera lecture themed "To Feel Chinese Classics" for Thailand Srinakharinwirot University on Aug 26. He showed some opera classics to the young students in Thailand and explained the aesthetic characteristics of Chinese classical art. On the same day, opera day, special excerpts and performances were also given at this university. On opera day, the audience will be invited to interact with the performers to experience the art of Peking Opera and to learn about the charm of Beijing Opera.