Highlights of three Kunqu Opera classics will be performed next Thursday as part of the year-long traditional Chinese opera festival, "Made in Shanghai."

Young artists Shen Yili and Yuan Guoliang from the Shanghai Kunqu Opera House will present excerpts from the classics "The Slaughter of Thousands of Loyal Officials," "The Peony Pavilion" and "The Phoenix Hairpin."

One of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese opera, Kunqu Opera originated in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, 600 years ago.

"The Slaughter of Thousands of Loyal Officials" is based on the real tragedy of Fang Xiaoru, a top scholar in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

He was executed because of his opposition to Emperor Zhu Li, who grabbed imperial power by deposing his nephew. The wrathful Zhu not only killed Fang's family and relatives, but also killed his students - the victims totaled thousands.

Yuan will depict the courageous and unyielding Fang with his soaring vocals and impressive body language.

The famous love tale "The Peony Pavilion," however, will lead audience to another fabulous and romantic art world.

A representative work by dramatist Tang Xianzu of the 16th century, the play has heavily influenced the development of drama in China.

The story tells of young lovers Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei and their pursuit of love that transcends death.

Du has a dream in a pavilion in which she meets a young scholar and promises to marry him. When she wakes up, she yearns for her dream lover and falls ill from longing; she eventually dies of lovesickness. The young scholar in her dream is Liu, who makes his way to the capital to take the imperial examination. He meets Du's soul and agrees to help her return to life by reuniting her soul with her body.

The highlight of the Thursday evening performance will be "The Phoenix Hairpin," in which Yuan and Shen will perform together as a couple in love.

 In the story, famed poet Lu You of the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) chances to meet Tang Wan in the Garden of Shen. They fall in love and get married, but Lu's mother forced them to divorce 10 years later.

Both of the lovers grieve. Lu composes a famous poem, "The Phoenix Hairpin," expressing his feelings about their love and inscribes it on the garden wall. Tang writes a love poem of the same name, and soon dies of a broken heart.

"We have made some changes to the original script and tried to make the love story more beautiful and emotional," says Yuan. "Traditional dancing will also be added to express the characters' sad moods."

The production includes beautiful verses of Chinese poetry and traditional and folk music, creating a dreamlike ambience.

Date: October 18, 7:30pm

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 People's Ave

Tickets: 50, 80 yuan

Tel: 5258-3600, 6372-8702

(Shanghai Daily October 12, 2007)