Ancient Chinese opera finds international voice

In “Dream Trip in Zhejiang”, a talent show organized by the provincial government on December 8, 20 international students from ZJU gave a virtuoso performance of Chinese opera, drawing rounds of thunderous applause from the audience.

Representing 15 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, and Malaysia, the students performed a series of time-honored Chinese opera selections. They chose to sing the two most popular opera genres in China, namely Peking opera and Shaoxing opera (native to Zhejiang). The exotic aura and the students’ skillful mastery of movements gave the quintessential Chinese art an international feel.

“The performance from international students is a huge enjoyment for both my eyes and ears,” said a member of the audience, among many who went backstage after the show to take photos with students.

China is home to more than 270 regional varieties of traditional opera, which tends to combine music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics. Professional impersonation would require years of dedicated training and practice.

News Clip from Zhejiang Television Station (in Chinese)

In addition to Chinese opera, the Zhejiang Province International Students Talent Show also features other Chinese art forms, such as dance and drama. Through a strict selection process, around 220 overseas students from 13 universities and colleges across the province finally made it to the stage. The show has long been an important platform for showcasing the fruits of international education throughout Zhejiang.

As the 11th edition, this year’s Talent Show took place at the Tourism College of Zhejiang. The event was co-hosted by Zhejiang Broadcasting Corporation and several units under the provincial government, including the Department of Education, the Press Office, and the Office of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs.