Kun Opera A Dream of Red Mansions debuts in Taipei

Taipei (CNS) – A Dream of Red Mansions, a great Chinese novel and a gem of world literature, debuted in the form of Kun Opera at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei on Tuesday.

Kun Opera, also called "Kunshanqiang" or "Kunqu", originated in the Kunshan region of Jiangsu. When performed by a group of brilliant Chinese artists, the mix of artistry is amazing.

An audience of 3,000 watched the play and marveled at the classic plot, elegant dialogue, beautiful melodies, gorgeous staging and the superb performance of the actors.

The opera lasted five hours, recounting the rise and decay of the Jia family romance, as well as the heartbreaking love story of hero and heroine.

Kun Opera experts across the Straits are now discussing a cooperative effort in play writing, said Yang Fengyi, president of Beifang Kunqu Theater.

Beijing Cultural Week, as a component of 2012 Exchange Activities of Cities across the Straits, was inaugurated on February 16.

Throughout the festival, 16 performances were presented in Taipei, including the play mentioned above.