PEKING OPERA FESTIVAL

Watching an authentic Peking Opera outside China is a seldom opportunity. It is an art that most people know by name, but have never seen before. Peking Opera is more than just music and singing; it also combines drama, dancing, martial arts and acrobatics, which makes it one of the most multifaceted theatrical forms in the world. In 2010 Peking Opera was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO.

The Peking Opera Festival offers a fine selection of original plays accompanied by an introduction to some of the key facts about Peking Opera. Basic background knowledge about the meaning of typical gestures, the abundant make-up and elaborate costumes help the audience understand the fundamentals of this mysterious genre.

 

TOUR & TICKETS

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Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe

1st December, 2018 14:00 The Dream of Handan Berliner Festspiele Click for tickets
1st December, 2018 19:30 The Purple Hairpin Berliner Festspiele Click for tickets
2nd December, 2018 14:00 The Dream under the Southern Bough Berliner Festspiele Click for tickets
2nd December, 2018 14:30 The Peony Pavilion Berliner Festspiele Click for tickets
5th December, 2018 19:30 The Peony Pavilion Sirius Science and Art Park Click for tickets
6th December, 2018 19:30 The Peony Pavilion Sirius Science and Art Park Click for tickets

China National Peking Opera Company

12th January, 2019 19:30 Havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom The Grand Théâtre de Genève Click for tickets
13th January, 2019 15:00 Havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom The Grand Théâtre de Genève Click for tickets
PRODUCTIONS

Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe

Dream of Handan

LU Sheng, the protagonist, is a down-and-out scholar who meets with LV Dongbin, an immortal on a mission to convert a man into the world of the ever living, at a small inn in the city of Handan. Upon hearing LU Sheng's complaint about his wretched life, LV Dongbin lends him a porcelain pillow to sleep on. In his dream, LU Sheng experience 50 years of vicissitudes of life as a high official, only to wake up to the stark reality that the yellow millet the innkeeper has been cooking for him is not yet done.

Cast:
Lu Sheng Zhangweiwei |  Cuishi Chenli

Havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom

Legend of the Purple Hair Pin

LI Yi, a talented scholar of the Tang Dynasty, encounters beautiful Ms. HUO Xiaoyu during the lantern festival one night. Their love affair begins when Ms. HUO drops her purple hairpin, which is a pledge of LI Yi's devotion.

Coincidentally, the powerful Grand Marshal Mr. LU wants LI Yi marry his daughter. LI Yi is sent away to guard the frontier as punishment for his refuse. Hearing no news of her husband, Ms. Huo falls ill and is plunged into poverty. Eventually, a 'Swordsman in Yellow' appears and does justice to help reunite the couple against all odds.

Cast:
Huo Xiaoyu Shen Yili |  Li Yi Li An

Havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom

Dream of Nanke

CHUN Yufen was a previously successful and rich officer in the Huainan army who has offended his general and been dismissed. One day CHUN Yufen was drinking under an old pagoda tree. When he became drunk, he fell asleep dazzledly, CHUN Yufen met with two atomies who took him into the giant hole in the tree, to have a ride to the great Kingdom of Pagoda.

He was recruited for the bridegroom of the princess in the kingdom. Then he served as Nanke Prefecture and achieved outstanding results. After the death of the princess, he was even promoted as the vice prime minister of the kingdom. At that time he occupied the great power and behaved in disorder manner without any fear. Finally he was expelled for punishment. Everything was only a dream when he woke up. He followed the Buddhism as his religion.

Cast:
Chun Yufen Wei Li |  Yao Fang Luo Chenxue

Havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom

The Peony Pavilion

In the early South Song Dynasty, the daughter of local governor, DU Liniang, dreamed of a scholar dating with her in the back garden by the Peony Pavilion. She could not forget her dream and soon passed away. Three years later, Liu Mengmei, a scholar in South China, travelled to study in Nanan. He went into the back garden and picked up a picture by chance. The beauty in the picture seemed familiar to him. He called the beauty repeatedly with his infatuation. Later, DU Liniang came back to life and they two had a happy marriage at last.

Cast:
Du Liniang Shen Yili |  Liu Mengmei Li An

The legend of the White Snake

China National Peking Opera Company

Havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom

Length: about 2 hours
Group size: about 40 people

This program is one of the most popular Peking Opera programs and the story is familiar to western audience. It has been recently performed in France and Slovenia. The vivid performance and wonderful acrobats enchanted many young viewers.

Performance records in recent years:
Performed at Théâtre Sénart and L’apostrophe in France from November 24th to December 3rd, 2016;
Performed at Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana, Slovenija from December 25th, 2015 to January 3rd, 2016.

Synopsis

Sun Wukong, the Monkey King is proficient in martial arts. He gathers together a large number of monkeys in a revolt against the heaven rulers in the Flower and Fruit Mountain. His booty “the Magic Needle in the Ocean” gained from his disturbance in the Dragon Palace becomes his great weapon titled Powerful Golden Stick. For this reason, the Dragon King Ao Guang sues in the heaven court and asks the Jade Emperor to revenge him. Li Changgeng, the deity of star in the heaven suggests that it is preferable to appease him than to disarm him when dealing with the Monkey King with immense capabilities. The emperor adopts his suggestion and sends him to the Flower and Fruit Mountain to persuade the Monkey King to ascend to the heaven. The Jade Emperor gives Monkey King a title “Horse administrator”. The Monkey King raises the imperial horses in the heaven court. The Horse King finds troubles with him, which makes the Monkey King annoyed. He causes chaos the Imperial Horse Pasture and then returns the Flower and Fruit Mountain.

Havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom

The Jade Emperor sends the heaven soldiers to suppress the Monkey King, but they return in failure, which forces the Emperor to adopt again the suggestion of appeasement. He gives a void title “Great saint equal to heaven” to the Monkey King and holds a peach banquet to entrap him. The Monkey King by chance breaks into the abode of fairy mother goddess and enjoys the sumptuous banquet by himself. Drunken Monkey King comes into the Doushuai Palace accidentally, takes the pills of immortality made by the Supreme Venerable Sovereign and then stumbles across the Heaven Gate. Upon hearing this news, the angry Jade Emperor calls on his army and orders them to fight against the Monkey King under the leadership of the marshal named Li Jing. The Monkey King leads his monkeys to meet the enemy and wins the final victory. Clustered around by the monkeys, the Monkey King returns the Flower and Fruit Mountain in triumph.

This story is taken from one of Chinese ancient classics, a mythological novel “Journey to the West”. It is a reflection of the ancient Chinese people’s wish for democracy, as well as their optimistic, enterprising, and valiant spirit in anti-feudalism. The Monkey King with magic powers and irrepressible spirit is an ideal hero in the people’s mind. The premiere of this opera was put on January 1st , 1956. It has been popular for several decades and enjoyed high reputations at home and abroad.

Havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom

ABOUT PEKING OPERA

Peking Opera consists of various artistic features like singing, music, dance, drama and acrobatics - a combination that makes the performance a unique stage experience. Beautiful costumes, elaborate makeup, enchanting voices and lively combat scenes fascinate the spectator. But in order to understand what the art of Peking Opera really is about, the audience needs some background knowledge. In our section ABOUT PEKING OPERA we will introduce the history of Peking Opera, outline the key facts about the performances and explain the basics about the four main roles types and the stage performers. Read more...

PAST TOURS

China National Peking Opera Company 2017 Russian Tour

Established in January 1955, China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC) is a national organization of performing arts directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China.

China National Peking Opera Company 2017 Russian Tour

Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe 2017

Established in 1978, the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe (SKOT) is a key protected national Kunqu institution, which is currently led by Ms. Gu Haohao. Read more...

Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe 2017

FAUST 2017

Faust, German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s magnum opus, is not only the greatest work of German literature but also a gem in world literature. The Peking opera Faust is adopted from Faust, Part One. Read more...

Tour 2017

Peking Opera Festival 2016

Seven celebrated festival editions in different European and American countries gained triumphant reviews, including the 2014 special edition in Russia and the United States to celebrate the 120th birth anniversary of Mei Lanfang. Read more...

Tour 2016

Theatre de la Geneva: Peking Opera Festival 2015

Cidade das Artes (Rio de Janeiro), SESC Quitadinha (Petropolis), SESC Pinheiros (Sao Paulo). Read more...

Theatre de la Geneva: Peking Opera Festival 2015

The 120th Anniversary of Mei Lanfang (Russia tour + USA tour): Peking Opera Festival 2014

On October 22, 2014, the 120th birth anniversary of Mei Lanfang, the great master of Jingju, will be celebrated. Read more...

The 120th Anniversary of Mei Lanfang (Russia tour + USA tour): Peking Opera Festival 2014

Jingju Theater Company of Beijing: Peking Opera Festival Brazil 2013

Cidade das Artes (Rio de Janeiro), SESC Quitadinha (Petropolis), SESC Pinheiros (Sao Paulo). Read more...

Jingju Theater Company of Beijing: Peking Opera Festival Brazil 2013

Jingju Theater Company of Beijing: Peking Opera Festival Europe 2013

Lucent Danstheater of The Hague, Brucknerhaus Linz, Teatro Piccolo di Milano. Read more...

Jingju Theater Company of Beijing: Peking Opera Festival 2013

Jingju Theater Company of Beijing: Peking Opera Festival 2012

Reithalle Munich, Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania, Teatro Rendano di Cosenza. Read more...

Jingju Theater Company of Beijing: Peking Opera Festival 2012

National Center for the Performing Arts: Red Cliff 2012

Burgtheater Vienna, National Theater Prague, State Opera Budapest. Read more...

National Center for the Performing Arts: Red Cliff 2012

PARTNER

Producer - China National Peking Opera Company

Established in January 1955, China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC) is a national organization of performing arts directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. The first President of CNPOC was the great master Mei Lanfang. Today CNPOC consists of three performance Troupes, one Stage Art Center and the Mei Lanfang Great Theatre.

Since its founding, the company has brought together a large number of outstanding performing artists and playwrights, directors, composers and stage artists, who enjoy a high reputation both at home and abroad, such as Li Shaochun, Yuan Shihai, Ye Shenlan, Du Jinfang, Ajia, Weng Ouhong and Fan Junhong and others. With a big number of masters, CNPOC has developed into a performing organization of Peking Opera with great advantages.

For 60 years, CNPOC has inherited, created, and staged more than 500 traditional, newly-written historical and contemporary Peking Opera Plays with various themes and forms. Up to now, it has developed an art spirit of inheritance, innovation, adaptions from other artistic forms and well portraying characters. Moreover, it has created an artistic style with rich contents, profound thoughts, various schools, and a well-balanced cast. 

More than 50 plays and over 200 members of CNPOC have won awards in national and international performance competitions. In recent years, it has always been on the list of winners of China’s major cultural awards, such as the Splendor Award (for professional theatrical artworks), the Best Works Award, China Peking Opera Festival Gold Award, Works of Excellence on the Nation’s stage, Mei Lanfang Gold Award, Plum Blossom Award and others.

Cultural exchange is one of the major tasks of CNPOC. It has been organizing performances around the world, covering over 50 countries and regions on five continents, and won a good international reputation. Through these activities, CNPOC has made contributions to promote Sino-foreign cultural exchanges as well as enhancing the friendship between Chinese people and the people of the world.

Producer - Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe

Established in 1978, the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe (SKOT) is a key protected national Kunqu institution, which is currently led by Ms. Gu Haohao. With Kunqu Maestro Yu Zhenfei as its first president, SKOT possesses a group of outstanding artists among which 15 of them are national/ provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage inheritors, while 9 of them has attained the China highest theatrical award, the Plum Blossom Prize, on top of which 2 are the awardees of Chinese Government Cultural Award.  The troupe has also constantly demonstrated its brilliance in various national theatrical competitions, for instance, the China Art Festival, the Shanghai Magnolia Drama contest and the China Kunqu Festival, etc. The accomplishment of Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe has further been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, which claims that SKOT is “a first class theatrical institution with first class of actors, repertoires and performances.”

Organizer - Wu Promotion

Founded in Beijing in 1991 by Zezhou Wu and Jiatong Wu, Wu Promotion is one of China's first performing arts promoters and event organizers. Inspired by a deep passion and dedication to music, Wu Promotion strives to enhance cultural exchange by actively promoting the performing arts and capturing the beauty and diversity of the world's culture through unique events.

With offices in China, Europe and the Middle East, its international and creative team organizes more than 500 concerts and events per year in China as well as abroad.

Wu Promotion provides premium services for performing arts, event management, public relations, exhibition and business hospitality.

Our Services
- International performing arts agency
- Promotion and organization of all genres of performing arts worldwide, with special focus on Asia, Europe and Middle East
- Organization of large scale international tours for orchestras, theaters and other professional performing troupes from different countries
- epresentation and promotion of emerging young Chinese artists on the international performing arts platform
- Event management, public and media relations management, and consultation on tourism and business development in China for foreign partners
- Organization of international culture exchange events for amateur troupes, such as choral groups, youth orchestras, government and institution delegations

CONTACT US

Ms. Sherry Zhang
Tel. +86 10 5165 0798 ext. 20
Email: sherry.zhang@wupromotion.com

Ms. Elena Piñuela
Tel. +86 10 5165 0798 ext. 25
Email: elena.pinuela@wupromotion.com

Wu Promotion Co., Ltd.

B702, TYG Center C2 Dongsanhuan Beilu 100027 Beijing, P.R. China

Tel.: +86 10 5165 0798
Email: office@wupromotion.com 

Fax: +86 10 8441 7135
Official Website:www.wupromotion.com

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