Renewing the past

Zhang Jun keeps pushing the boundaries of Kunqu Opera in projects like I, Hamlet (above) and Blossoms on a Spring Moonlit Night.[Photo provided to China Daily]

In March, Zhang Jun will stage Blossoms on a Spring Moonlit Night in Beijing. The operatic piece is inspired by a Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet's work.

Zhang Jun is the show's producer and will play the lead role. The opera, written by Luo Zhou, is based on a love story, which transcends life and death.

"Luo's creativity is based on sticking to the tradition of Kunqu Opera," says Zhang Jun, adding that it is tough to write an original Kunqu Opera today due to its ancient cultural connotations.

The show debuted in Shanghai in 2015 and won acclaim from both critics and fans. During the past two years, it has been performed more than 20 times in China.

In 2001, UNESCO proclaimed Kunqu Opera as an "intangible heritage of humanity". In 2011, Zhang Jun was recognized as an Artist for Peace by the world body for his endeavor to popularize the art form.

His focus has been to keep it alive by capturing the romance and elegance of Kunqu while introducing contemporary aesthetics in performances.