Public talks hope to preserve ancient art

ONE of the oldest existing forms of traditional Chinese theater, a 600-year-old genre called Kunqu Opera, is facing enormous challenges to survive.

Due to the dramatic changes in the lifestyles of Chinese people over the decades, the art form is losing appeal.

In a bid to preserve the ancient art, Gwendoline Cho-ning Kam, an ethnomusicologist from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has initiated a public talk series on the basics of Kunqu Opera.

The talks will be held in both Chinese and English at Shanghai Dayin Culture Center, starting on April 13.

Accompanied by a small ensemble of percussion, wind and string instruments, a traditional Kunqu performance features actors who employ gestures, pantomime, mock combat and acrobatics, as well as stylized dancing and singing.

Lin Feng, a veteran musician from the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe who specializes in bangu (literally “clapper and drum”), will be the first lecturer to give a talk on how percussion music shapes the genre.

After Lin, renowned Kunqu flautist Qian Yin and artists Li An and Luo Chenxue will hold the next three talks on Kunqu music and performance.

Those who are interested can scan the QR code below or follow WeChat account (dysj1834) for registration and updated information about the coming lectures.

Date: April 13, 7-8:30pm

Venue: Dayin Culture Center Address: 308 Chongqing Rd S.