The Northern Kunqu Opera
MUMBAI, 9 December 2014 – Asia Society India Centre recently partnered with the Sadir Theatre Festival for a spellbinding performance of the Peony Pavilion performed by the Northern Kunqu Opera.
The sublime evening began with comments by Swati Bhise, Artistic Director of the Sadir Theatre Festival and Dr. Joanna Lee, translator for the Opera. The renowned Kunqu Opera, developed under the Ming dynasty, is one of the oldest prevalent forms of Chinese Opera. Often cited as the “mother” of a hundred opera forms (including the Peking opera), Kunqu was recognised as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.
The Peony Pavilion explored universal themes of love, life, death and forgiveness. It flit between the realms of dream and reality, featuring live musical accompaniment to a complex system of choreographic techniques, acrobatics and symbolic gestures.
The mesmerising Opera transported viewers to China under the Ming dynasty and the intricate costumes and sets played a pivotal role in this journey.
Swati Bhise poignantly said “We need to know our neighbours better through culture more than anything else”. The performance of the Opera in Mumbai and the vibrant response it received was certainly an affirmation of that vision.
Reported by Antaraa Vasudev, Programme Assistant, Asia Society India Centre.
The Kunqu Opera is brought to India by: