Second act

Younger audiences, global exposure revive Kunqu Opera

From centuries of being pas through mentorship, to the m when the youth edition of T Pavilion ignited fervor among students, Kunqu Opera’s histor closely connected with the effort of generations of young p

As China places a greater foc ditional opera education, a young people are taking part i and promoting the art form modern interpretation and i vision, the legacy continues.

Gu Sike’s encounter with t opera was a matter of serend child he had a weak constitutio parents heard that Peking Op ing could help him keep fit.

With his teacher recogn physical attributes and voca Gu was admitted into the Kun class at the Beijing Opera Arts 2013, and continued onto un ate studies at the National Ac Chinese Theater Arts.

“The more I learned abou Opera, the more I started to app beauty. It takes time to savor i intricacy and cultural depth,” s

Distinct among traditiona opera styles, Gu says, Kunqu characterized by its poetic l follow fixed rhythmic struct the correspondence between ments and sounds.

He plays laosheng, or eld roles, often marked by virtue ception, which requires him stantly enrich his knowle cultivate his character.

In his opinion, learning and ing these roles has probably subtle influence on him, so th having an extroverted perso tends to have a calm and approach when dealing with p

“Kunqu Opera is an authent iment of Chinese culture, wit tumes, movements, singing designs. All these elements power of influencing the appreciation of the audience,”

For another student Geng K specializes in playing huadan young female roles), there seem inner connection with the cha Kunqu Opera’s stories that t time and space.

While her previous opera