Pioneering Yueju Opera wows Beijing audiences

Yueju is one of China's best-known forms of Opera. And now the art is being injected with new life by fusing it with western elements. The opera "Good Soul of South Yangzi" is based on a stage piece by famous German playwright Bertolt Brecht. It drew large crowds last Sunday at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

Adapted from Brecht's play "The Good Person of Sichuan", the play is set in the time of the Republic of China. Three gods come to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River to look for a thoroughly good person. They spot a singer named Shendai, who is forced to disguise herself as her cousin to uphold justice and protect the weak.

The show vividly portrays the complexity of human nature using traditional and western methods, many of them rarely seen in Chinese operas. It was a special experience for the performers and directors.

Mao Weitao, Yueju Opera Artist, said, "It's a great fusion of styles between the master opera performer Mei Lanfang and Brecht. And our troupe is very passionate about it. I think everybody did a great job. "

Director Guo Xiaonan said, "We are not abandoning tradition. We are looking for a breakthrough for Chinese opera, and to navigate a path for future development."

This show is part of a series of artistic initiatives aimed at blending traditional and western influences in various fields of China's cultural scene.