A poster of Kunqu opera "The Peony Pavilion"

Starting on June 18 and running until June 26 is a gala celebrating one of China's most historical and traditional art forms, Kunqu Opera.

Held in the city of Suzhou, Zhejiang Province, the 4th Kunqu Opera festival is offering a feast for opera lovers with performances by seven top-level troupes including the renowned Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater.

Since the first festival in 2000, this fiesta has developed into a major event and has helped rejuvenate this unique cultural legacy.

This year’s festival is the largest yet. Several Kunqu Opera classics including The Peony Pavilion, Romance of the West Chamber and Eternal Palace are schedule to be performed.

Another highlight is that amateur Kunqu Opera groups and workshops from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the US are also making their debut and presenting their rendition of this old opera genre.

During this festival, some forums will also be held to discuss the best ways to creatively preserve Kunqu Opera as well as ways to make it appealing to a young audience.

(Global Times June 18, 2009)