Jilin Traditional Chinese Opera Festival opens in Changchun

With over 2,000 performers from 24 theatrical troupes from across the country staging 40 opera shows, the 2018 Jilin Traditional Chinese Opera Festival, opened in Changchun on Aug 16.

The 16-day event will stage classical productions such as the Peking opera Prosperity Brought by the Dragon and the Phoenix, Kunqu opera Peony Pavilion and Huangmei opera The Female Prince Consort. The festival will also exhibit traditional handicrafts to highlight the significance of intangible cultural heritages.

The term "traditional opera" differs from "Chinese opera" in that it refers to the 384 operas that have been listed as the nation's intangible cultural heritages. The intangible cultural heritage is displayed in the way of writing, directing and performing a traditional opera, and its value lies in the specific performing art to protect, inherit and present the works in the most authentic way.

The traditional Peking operas, for example, will be appreciated for its resemblance to the original versions of their predecessors, instead of the innovations in acting techniques.

"We must respect the history of these traditional operas and get to know the essence of the intangible cultural heritage," said Sun Guilin, dean of the Jilin Academy of Arts and director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center of Jilin Province.