From May 24 to 28, Nanjing University organized a magnificent Kunqu Opera Week as part of its 121st anniversary celebrations. One of the highlights of the week was a spectacular Kunqu concert held on the evening of May 25 in front of the North Building at the Gulou Campus. Renowned Kunqu masters from the Kunju Opera Theatre of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group graced the stage, captivating the audience with their performances of two classic excerpts: “The Lake Tower from Winning the Most Famous Beauty” and “Stealing Poems from the Story of the Jade Hairpin.” The concert showcased the profound beauty of traditional Chinese culture.

Wang Zhenlin, Standing Member of the CPC NJU Committee and Vice President, delivered welcome remarks at the event. He emphasized the prominent position of Nanjing University in the study, preservation, and development of Kunqu Opera among Chinese universities. He expressed the university’s commitment to promoting the inheritance and teaching of this traditional art form and contributing to the protection, inheritance, and development of China’s exceptional traditional culture.

The concert featured the participation of distinguished Kunqu masters, including Shi Xiaming. This performance marked Shi’s first public appearance since receiving the 31st Plum Performance Award, the highest national award for Chinese theatre performing arts.

Kunqu Opera is a traditional Chinese opera form that dates back several centuries and is renowned for its elegant singing, graceful movements, and intricate costumes. The Kunqu Opera Week provided the audience with an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and artistry of Kunqu Opera while offering a glimpse into China’s rich cultural heritage.

The Kunqu Opera Week was jointly organized by the School of Arts, College of First-Year Students, Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, and Nanjing University-Birmingham University-Phoenix Publishing & Media Group Shakespeare Centre, China. In addition to the performances, Lin Weilin, a nationally first-level actor and representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage program of Kunqu Opera, was invited to deliver a themed lecture, enriching the cultural experience of the attendees.

Source: School of Arts

Writer: Luo Xiongwei

Photographer: She Zhijun, Hu Xiao

Editor: Guo Ankang