Legendary Chinese Kunqu Opera comes to India
 Kunqu was recognized as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001

Bravia Sadir Theater Festival brings the oldest and most refined styles of traditional Chinese theater to India.  Renowned masterpiece of the Ming dynasty “The Peony Pavilion” play is coming to Delhi and Mumbai, giving cultural and theatre aficionados an introduction to the heritage of Chinese performing Arts.

Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area. Known as the “mother” of a hundred opera forms (including Peking opera), Kunqu was recognized as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001. 

Date and Venue:
Dec 9, 2014 at NCPA, Mumbai
Dec 12, 2014 at Siri Fort, Delhi

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

For tickets, log on to: bookmyshow.com

The Play that will be performed in Mumbai and Delhi is “The Peony Pavilion”

It is a play written by Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty and was first performed in 1598. It is the most popular play of the Ming Dynasty.

The story board: 

It’s a classic love story that traces the last days of the Southern Song Dynasty. A maid persuades the sixteen-year-old daughter of an important official, to take a walk in the garden, where she falls asleep and in her dream encounters a young scholar.

A flaming romance between the two flourishes rapidly. The girls dream is interrupted by a flower petal falling on her. She however, becomes preoccupied with her dream affair and her lovesickness quickly consumes her. Unable to recover from her fixation, she wastes away and dies.

In the underworld the judges decide that a marriage between the girl and scholar is pre-destined and she ought to return to the earthly world. What follows next is the formula of many Chinese comedies. 

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