Chinese opera gets a leg up in Shenzhen

An opera project initiated by the Shenzhen Grand Theater has attracted numerous opera fans in the city. For five years, the theater has offered free traditional Chinese Opera performances to locals every Saturday. The project has not only given locals the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Chinese Operas, but has also inspired a lot of amateur performers to take up the art form.

9-year-old Wang Yanlong loves Chinese Opera. A year ago she watched a Peking Opera performance at the Shenzhen Grand Theater with her parents. And she was hooked. Soon after, she started to attend training classes to learn Peking Opera. And now, her singing and elegant gestures are quite the same as a professional performer.

But she is not alone in her love for the art form.

10-year-old Xu Siwei has been studying Peking Opera for about a year. And he is really talented. In fact, his rendition of Bao Zheng, a much-praised official in the Northern Song Dynasty in ancient China, even won him a gold prize in a national Peking Opera contest.

Xu Shixian, Xu Siwei'S Father, said, "I'm a big fan of Peking Opera and Huangmei Opera. So I would often take him to watch the free opera shows at the Shenzhen Grand Theater. And he soon fell in love with the art. I think it's good for the younger generation to learn something about traditional operas."

Tan Xiaozeng, Peking Opera Performer, said, "He's very interested in Peking Opera, and he's really talented. He has studied for only one year and has already won a national prize! I'm glad to see that so many youngsters like opera art."

In the past five years, the free opera project has delivered more than 200 performances to locals. Besides shows on the Peking Opera, other opera forms such as Guangdong Opera, Henan Opera and Kunqu Opera are also showcase at the theater.

Audience members also get the chance to enjoy performances by renowned artists. Big names including Mei Baojiu, Yu Kuizhi and Wang Peiyu have all graced the stage here at the Shenzhen Grand Theater.

Li Jianyang, Organizer, said, "The opera project offers a great opportunity for locals to appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese operas. And it has proved to be quite successful. We'll surely carry on with it."

Buoyed by the response the project has got over time, organizers say the plan is to include more traditional opera forms in the future.