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Peking University, June 3, 2011: If you walked past the PKU Administrative Building on the evening of May 29, you might have heard some euphonious traditional opera. It was the night for 20th anniversary party of PKU Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera Amateur Society.

Old and new society members got together to celebrate, joined by some famous artists who came to give excellent performances on this special occasion. Among them was renowned Peking Opera artist Ding Xiaojun and Crosstalk artist Xu Deliang.

Six classical episodes were performed on the party, including Xun-pai Opera (initiated by the outstanding Peking Opera artist Xun Huisheng) Hong Niang, Kunqu Opera "The Peony Pavilion" and the modern Peking Opera "Shajia bang," which were also gifts to celebrate the 90th anniversary of CPC.

Huang Panwei, president of PKU Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera Amateur Society, briefly reviewed the history of the society in past 20 years and showed appreciation for all the members’ efforts and contribution.

The show rose curtains with the episode from Hong Niang, showing the part when Zhang Sheng, a young scholar, sought opportunity to get close to Cui Yingying, the daughter of a chief minister of the Tang court.

Famous Peking Opera artist Ding Xiaojun together with former society member Fang Zhenxing performed the episode from "The Fourth Son Visits Her Mother - Sitting in the Palace" (Silang Tan Mu - Zuo Gong). Ding Xiaojun also sang the episode from "Farewell My Concubine" to satisfy the passionate audience, also as respect for the world-renowned artist Mei Lanfang.

"Return of the phoenix" (Feng Huan Chao) was performed by a joint cast from both Beijing Youth Peking Opera Society and PKU Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera Amateur Society.

Huang Panwei believed that putting on a performance starred by PKU students could attract their classmates and many more to come into the theatre and be introduced into the world of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera, and might even eventually become a fan. When a larger group of younger generation is attracted to Chinese traditional culture, the traditional arts will not end up without an heir. “Do something to promote the essence of national culture," said Huang.  

About PKU Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera Amateur Society
PKU Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera Amateur Society (Jing-Kun she) is a cultural and art society for college students to know traditional opera, mainly Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera. The society was founded on March 29, 1991.

Ever since its foundation, society members have persisted its weekly activities. The activity places had changed many times and now it came back to Yiyuan Building. Besides weekly activities, the society have organized activities including Peking Opera Cultural Festival (Jingju Wenhua Jie), a debating contest, and the performance to celebrate PKU's centennial, just to name a few.

Written by: Chen Meng
Edited by: Li Xiaomeng
Source: PKU News (Chinese)