Highlights

2014: The classic repertoire of Sichuan Kunqu Opera was performed in Beijing, marking the first time in four hundred years that Sichuan Kunqu Opera has ventured beyond its home province and entered the capital.

2015: For the first time, guqin and nanyin, two traditional art forms with a history of more than 1,000 years, were presented together, creating a magnificent dialogue of elegant music.

2016: Renowned xiao flute player Wang Jianxin and se zither player Fu Lina took part in the event for the first time, bring the enriching beauty of the guqin and xiao, as well as the harmonious resonance of the guqin and se, to the concert.

2017: 

1. The Junior Kunqu Opera Troupe of Kunshan made its debut in Beijing.

Kunqu Opera performance by artists from the Junior Kunqu Opera Troupe of Kunshan

2. National intangible cultural heritage inheritors and young guqin players performed together.

3. The Hunan Kunju Opera Troupe performed the newly adapted Kunqu Opera Dream of the Goddess of River Xiang (Xiangfei meng).

The newly adapted Kunqu Opera Dream of the Goddess of River Xiang (Xiangfei meng) was performed at the Grand Theatre.

4. The application of internet video streaming techniques, including VR live streaming, enabled for a dual experience of online and offline performances for the first time in ten years, garnering a positive response from the public.

Additionally, a second satellite venue was set up at the Inviting Moon Pavilion of Prince Kung’s Palace Museum, where the “Bringing Museums to Classrooms” program was connected with Denmark via live streaming, allowing students in Denmark to experience traditional Chinese culture.

Danish students watch a livestream of a guqin performance.

Danish students experiment with the guqin zither.

2019: Under the theme of “Awakening Ancient Guqin”, one Tang Dynasty (618-907) guqin, one Song Dynasty (960-1279) guqin, and three pieces of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) guqin were selected and played by young artists Lin Chen, Dai Xiaolian, Wu Na, Yang Chunwei, and Huang Mei, capturing the sounds of the guqin from a thousand years ago. In addition to the performances, academic lectures were also held to share the significance of “Awakening Ancient Guqin”.

2020: This event featured a live performance of Kunqu Opera Heavenly Gods Granting Blessings (Tianguan cifu). 

The appearance of the renowned Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) guqin “Ming Feng” (“The cry of phoenix”), from the collection of the Chinese Academy of Arts, also gained significant attention on the Internet.

2023: The performance season featured performances by students from the guqin societies of 24 universities across China.

Meanwhile, the Kunqu Opera session welcomed 13 students and young teachers from six universities and middle schools in China. They presented a university edition of Peony Pavilion.

2023 “Echoes of Classics – Prince Kung’s Palace Museum Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance Season”