The University of Sydney Confucius Institute takes the Chinese opera to the stage

USYD CI Chinese opera night

On 28th of September, 2009, the traditional birthday of Confucius, the University of Sydney Confucius Institute presented a Chinese opera performance at the Seymour Theatre in Sydney, Australia. The opera was performed to a full house by the award-winning Jingkun Theatre Group, an outstanding ensemble comprised of performers from Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shandong.

The University' Deputy Vice Chancellor (International), Professor John Hearn, welcomed 700 audience and praised the Confucius Institute for its achievements during its first year of operation. The Director of the Confucius Institute, Professor Hans Hendrischke, thanked the performers and co-organiser Professor Jeffrey Riegel, Head of the School of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney. Professor Riegel introduced the Kunqu and Peking Opera program.

killing Yan Xijiao

The evening's program included highlights from three Chinese classical opera: The Peony Pavilion, the Crossroads and Black Dragon Residence. The performance received an overwhelming response from audiences. One audience member remarked: "It was simply brilliant! I was not familiar with Chinese opera and it made me hungry for more!"

Kungu is one of the most venerable and highly appreciated forms of Chinese opera, famous for its lyrical texts and its seamless co-ordination of song, dance and movement. In 2001 Kunqu opera was listed on UNESCO's repertory of World Oral and Intangible Heritage.

The Crossroads

As part of the program the Institute also organised Chinese opera workshops with the Jinkun Theatre Group for the general public, staff and students of the University of Sydney.

(Contributed by Xing Jin, Business Development Manager at the University of Sydney Confucius Institute)