鋼琴家鐘愛昆曲

Chinese pianist Lang Lang, one of the three ambassadors for the 2010 World Expo, yesterday enjoyed "The Peony Pavilion," one of China's most traditional Kunqu Opera classics, at Kezhi Garden in Zhujiajiao watertown.

Lang appreciated the show as the most romantic and best Kunqu Opera performance he has ever watched because of its dream-like setting which enchants audiences.

Since the show's debut in June, 20 performances have been staged, attracting a number of celebrities including Sha Zukang, assistant secretary general of the United Nation, Hans d'Orville, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, John Howkins known as the father of Britain's creative industry, well-known Chinese scholars Du Weiming, Ge Jianxiong and Yu Dan, the Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin, fashion designer Vivienne Tam, artistic director of Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra Tang Muhai and Hong Kong actor Law Kar-ying.

Students can buy discounted tickets at 80 yuan (US$11.73). Ticket prices range between 80 yuan and 1,080 yuan.

Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and conductor Tan Dun took a modern approach in producing the opera by bringing "The Peony Pavilion" away from the stage and into the natural setting of Kezhi Garden. Zhang Jun, one of China's top Kunqu Opera masters, acted in the opera, which is dubbed China's very own "Romeo and Juliet."

The idea is to encapsulate the pure, natural and raw love that develops between the characters of this ancient love story.

Just like the new interpretation of the opera, Kezhi Garden is a combination of Chinese and Western influences and integrates both traditional and modern garden styles.

The most famous of all Kunqu Opera works, "The Peony Pavilion" tells the story of the love between Du Liniang, the daughter of a high-ranking official and a poor young scholar named Liu Mengmei. Kept apart by circumstance the story mirrors that of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

"The Peony Pavilion" is shown on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between June and October at Kezhi Garden.

Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera and has influenced many Chinese art forms including Peking Opera. Kunqu was listed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001.