The 9th China Kunju Opera Art Festival, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province, kicked off on Apr. 28 in Kunshan, Suzhou. It will stage 16 outstanding Kunju operas and renowned excerpts in the following seven days.
Lu Yingchuan, vice minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, attended the opening ceremony. Liu Xiaotao, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and secretary of the CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee, participated in the activity. Xu Ying, vice governor of Jiangsu Province, Liu Jian, deputy secretary-general of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, Xu Ning, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, and Wu Qingwen, deputy secretary of the CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee and mayor of Suzhou, attended the opening ceremony, which was presided over by Yang Zhichun, director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.
At the opening ceremony, artists of the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre staged a performance of Lin Chong, the first martial Kunju opera created by the theatre which tells the tragic story of Lin Chong, a martial arts trainer in the army of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) who became a bandit after being framed by a higher official and banished to Cangzhou.
Since 2000, the China Kunju Opera Art Festival has been successfully held for eight consecutive sessions in Jiangsu Province. It has developed into the largest and most highly attended event of its kind, showcasing the highest level of artistic accomplishment of Kunju opera.
During this year’s art festival, which will last until May 4, there will be 17 sideline activities in 6 categories, including Kunqu opera appreciation concerts, academic symposiums, script presentations, and flash-mob performances. In addition to the online shows, artists will be invited to give performances in such “theaters without walls” as classic gardens, scenic spots, culture centers, museums, shopping malls, and colleges and universities to offer a unique and exciting experience for audiences.