| The First Peking Opera Festival in South America |
The Peking Opera Festival in South America was the first time that Peking Opera was presented in South America at such a large scale.
The Peking Opera Festival in South America, organized by Wu Promotion and staged by the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing, was the first time that Peking Opera was presented in South America at such a large scale. This major event took place in the period from October 7th to 22nd and was not only a milestone for the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing, who made their debut in Brazil, but also for Wu Promotion who for the first time organized a large tour in South America. The distinguished artists from the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing gave 12 excellent performances in Rio de Janeiro, Petropolis and Sao Paulo staging 4 classical productions, One Good Turn Deserves Another, The Tale of a White Snake and Monkey Makes Havoc in the Heaven as well as a Peking Opera Gala. In addition, several workshops were organized at theaters and for students. The Peking Opera Festival in Brazil attracted a total audience of over 15 thousand people and was a big success. The Peking Opera Festival, lasted 15 days and each performance was warmly welcomed by the Brazilian Audience including local government and cultural institutions. Both local and Chinese media promptly reported about the grand tour, including but not limited to the South America Station of China Central Television, Xinhua News Agency, Beijing Daily and several news site in Rio de Janeiro. Among the audiences in Brazil, many expressed that watching an authentic Peking Opera, an art form that most have heard of but never seen, is a seldom opportunity outside China. This festival that combined performances with moderation and workshops, created a unique chance to experience the broad cultural heritage of Peking Opera.
Chen Xiaoling, Consul-General of the Chinese Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro attended the debut of the tour. She expressed the hope that performing arts groups from China and Brazil will strengthen exchange and cooperation. It is worth mentioning that the Petropolis’ government supported and cooperated in the organization of the performances in their city. The mayor of Petropolis was present at one of the performances and congratulated the Festival for the wonderful performances.
After several celebrated Peking Opera Festival editions in Europe, Wu promotion and the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing combined their strength and expertise to make their debut in Brazil and realize this tour. The Peking Opera Festival in South America received great acclaim. Peking Opera, as a representative art form from China, attracted the Brazilian audiences with its unique charm. The success of the festival and the applause received across the country shows the appreciation of this Chinese traditional art form, by the Brazilian audience.
|
