The Eastern ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Yue Opera Version Shines at Hangzhou Asian Para Games

Hangzhou - The Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games are not merely about sports; they also boost international exchanges in culture, arts, and so forth. To celebrate the two grand sports events, the most representative Yue Opera, The Butterfly Lovers, performed by Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe, has been staged at the Yue Theatre of Hangzhou during the two international events. This opera has garnered attention from both the young and the aged, as well as people from home and overseas.

The classic romantic story "The Butterfly Lovers" has been well-known among Chinese people for centuries. The legendary story is about two lovers, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, who lived in the Eastern Jin dynasty (266–420 AD). Because of their family's objections, the lovers could not get married. In the end, both of them died for love, so it's also called the eastern Romeo and Juliet. This story has been adapted into various Chinese operas, including Yue Opera.

The newly adapted Yue opera "The Butterfly Lovers" by the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe has received many awards. It was also performed at the G20 Summit in 2006. The opera interweaves modern aesthetics into traditional themes, appealing to both young and old. After every performance, the troupe receives many flowers from audience members and fans.

Yue Opera, like Peking Opera and Sichuan Opera, boasts a long history. It's rooted in the local dialect and folk music of Shengxian county of Zhejiang Province. The highlight of the opera is its male roles being played by actresses. With time passing, many time-honored operas face problems in gaining attention and favor from younger generations. Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe has relentlessly tried to innovate the traditional Yue operas to satisfy people's tastes in modern days. According to the introduction of Mao Weitao, the famous Yue Opera artist, after exploring what attracts people nowadays, the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe has creatively developed its new style by integrating modern aesthetics, poetry, symbolism, and metaphors into traditional Yue operas. That is why some Yue operas created and performed by Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe succeed in captivating younger generations and people who are not fans of Yue operas.

In addition, Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera has also actively expanded Yue opera's influence overseas. According to the introduction, the troupe has adapted some foreign classic stories into Yue operas. One outstanding example is creatively blending Shakespeare's tragedy Coriolanus and Tang Xianzu's love story "The Peony Pavilion" together. The premiere of Coriolanus & Du Liniang was staged in London during the 400^th anniversary year of Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu. After the premiere, the British media commented that China and Britain came out even in the achievements of 400-year-old operas. This innovation promoted Yue opera overseas and introduced China's greatest playwright and his masterpieces to the world.