A scene from the Peking Opera Yin-Yang Swords. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]
Wuhan Peking Opera staged a performance of the newly adapted Yin-Yang Swords at the 11th China Peking Opera Art Festival, held from Oct 15 to Nov 5 in Wuhan, Hubei province.
The opera, originating from Chinese classical literature such as Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Three Kingdoms and set against the historical backdrop of the late Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and the Qin-Chu rivalry, employs its titular dual swords as a central motif and narrative thread, telling the intertwined destinies of Zhuo Qingmei, the daughter of a military family, and Zhuang Bairen, a fallen nobleman, whose lives are united and divided by their connection to the swords.
Since its initial premiere in May, the production has been refined and enhanced, returning to the stage to mark the festival's closing ceremony.
Han Xiao, Party secretary of Wuhan Peking Opera, noted that the city is celebrated as a major hub for traditional Chinese opera and that Wuhan Peking Opera has explored contemporary themes within Peking Opera.
This production highlights the theatre's versatility in handling diverse styles and themes, and demonstrates the ongoing legacy and renewal of Peking Opera.
A scene from the opera. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]
