Poster for the 16th “Echoes of Classics – Prince Kung’s Palace Museum Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance Season”
From June 9 to 17, 2023, the 16th “Echoes of Classics – Prince Kung’s Palace Museum Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance Season” is taking place at the Grand Theatre of Prince Kung’s Palace Museum. The nine-day event featured a series of performances, including five guqin zither concerts and four Kunqu Opera shows.
The inaugural performance featured renowned guqin masters presenting classical melodies and movements.
Artist playing a guqin during the 16th “Echoes of Classics – Prince Kung’s Palace Museum Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance Season”
The second day of the performance season marked the 18th Cultural and Natural Heritage Day of China. The Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Opera Theater, from the birthplace of Kunqu Opera, together with the Junior Kunqu Opera Troupe of Kunshan, opened the Kunqu Opera performance session.
On June 10, Junior Cowherd is performed by the Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Opera Theater at the Grand Theatre of Prince Kung’s Palace Museum. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]
On June 11, the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre presented popular individual acts extracted from a full-length repertoire. On June 12 and 13, Peony Pavilion and Unexpected Reunion performed by university students, lecturers, and the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre. The selection of Unexpected Reunion was inspired by the 1887 playlist from the private party held by Prince Kung, adding a touch of historical significance to the event.
Two performances by celebrated guqin artists will be shown in succession on June 14 and 15. The last two guqin concerts on June 16 and 17 will be given by guqin club members from 24 colleges and universities in China.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of guqin art on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is also the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Prince Kung’s Palace Museum.
The starlit guqin concert held on the first day of the 16th “Echoes of Classics – Prince Kung’s Palace Museum Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance Season”
The “Echoes of Classics – Prince Kung’s Palace Museum Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance Season” has been held 15 times, establishing itself as an important cultural event to mark Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. It has gained recognition as an important cultural brand, showcasing the richness and diversity of intangible cultural heritage.
This performance season received support from the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Library, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Kunshan Committee, and the Xingyun Cultural and Educational Foundation.
