Kunqu and Cantonese opera talents from Shanghai and Hong Kong join hands
A timeless myth of love

Cantonese opera encompasses a wide range of vocal styles, while its performance is versatile and bears distinct echoes of everyday life.  Musically, it has been influenced by different operatic genres, with the boisterous sounds of the gong and drum being one of its highlights.  Hailed as the “Mother of Chinese operas”, Kunqu opera is famed for its subtle and literary style, lyrical and lingering music, as well as crisp and delicate singing style known as the “milling tune”.  Both genres are included in the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.  Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe and The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong (Barwo) are sharing the stage for the first time in Tale of the White Snake, performed by the young performers from both troupes.  Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe performs Touring the West Lake and Flooding Jinshan Temple while Barwo performs A Startling Change, Stealing the Magical Plant and The Broken Bridge.  A popular tale with a mix of civil and martial scenes, Tale of the White Snake is a well-loved classic that appears in various genres of Chinese opera.