Apart from some revisions of old repertoire, the participating plays are all new ones produced after the last festival, which was held three years ago in Beijing.

The themes of the operas range from historical stories such as "The Flourishing Age of Emperor Li Shimin," (zhenguan shengshi - zhenguan is the title of the reign of Li Shimin (627-649) of the Tang Dynasty) and "Rouge River," (yanzhi he) to modern plays such as "She Comes from Snow-capped Mountains" and "Mother of the Grasslands."

"Compared with the previous two festivals in which most plays were productions of traditional large Peking Opera theatres from Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, this year's festival has attracted more theatres and artists from remote provinces such as Yunnan, Gansu and Guizhou and even some ethnic theatres," said Lu Yuzhong, director of the Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera Office with the Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture.

Two of the total 24 operas are considered to be outstanding productions.

One is "Du Shiniang," produced by the master class of the China Traditional Opera Institute.

The other is "The Return of the Condor Heroes," (shendiao xialu) staged by the Peking Opera Theatre of Hubei Province starring Tang Yuen Ha, a Hong Kong-based Peking Opera actress.

The opera is also created by her and her Peking and Kunqu Opera theatre.

This new piece is based on well-known novelist Louis Cha's martial-arts novel of the same title. Several popular TV series and movies have been created on it already. So both the critics and audiences are curious about this new Peking Opera version.

A series of "Gold Chrysanthemum" prizes will be given to the outstanding operas, writers, directors, actresses, actors, composers and stage-designers that participate in the festival.

In addition to the performances, a seminar concerning the development of Peking Opera in the new century will be held. And some get-togethers will also be organized for Peking Opera fans and amateur performers.

During the festival, Nanjing Arts Center will host an exhibition of costumes, props and facial make-up of Peking Opera as well as paintings and calligraphy created by some renowned artists.

(China Daily November 30, 2001)