The performance of ‘Peony Pavilion’. In everyone’s three lifetimes, there is a ‘Peony Pavilion’. The predestined marriage in the bustling world is deeply locked in a treasure chest that has been dusty for years. After six hundred years, what can open it? Outside Shanghai, in the twilight, once visiting the garden, one is startled from a dream and spring returns! Guided by the lantern, one tries the spring at the pine pavilion.
One understands the elegant meaning by hearing the sounds of nature. Listeners and performers, in the meandering stream with floating wine cups, return to the primordial chaos. From then on, engrave a passage of opera text and cherish the sentiment that belongs only to oneself: ‘The three lifetimes on the Peony Pavilion are originally the person in the spring boudoir dream.’ The originator of Chinese real-life garden opera, ‘Real-life Garden Kunqu Opera Peony Pavilion’, premiered at the World Expo in June 2010. As of now, it has been performed 272 times in 12 years in the Kezhi Garden in Zhujiajiao. Since the performance began, it has received a cumulative total of 60,000 audiences from all over the country and around the world. This play is directed by musician Tan Dun as the artistic director. Tan Dun and Kunqu opera artist Zhang Jun jointly produced it. It presents the masterpiece ‘Peony Pavilion’ by the great literary figure Tang Xianzu of the Ming Dynasty in a real-life and real-scene manner. It is China’s first real-life garden Kunqu opera. This work is presented in the survival style of the heyday of Kunqu opera, creating a classical atmosphere of literati and officials enjoying opera on a moonlit night and restoring the life style of the wealthy families with elegant charm in ancient China.First Act: Visiting the Garden. Du Liniang, accompanied by her maid Chunxiang, enters the back garden to enjoy the scenery. Her heart is filled with the beauty of spring. She takes a short rest and has a tender encounter with Liu Mengmei in her dream. When she wakes up, she is filled with a sense of loss.
Second Act: Departing Soul. From then on, Du Liniang falls ill with lovesickness and eventually dies of a serious illness. On her deathbed, she instructs her maid Chunxiang to bury her under a plum tree in the back garden and bury her portrait under a Taihu stone.
Third Act: Secret Rendezvous. Three years later, Liu Mengmei goes to the capital to take the imperial examination and lodges at the Plum Blossom Nunnery. He picks up Du Liniang’s portrait and is infatuated with it, calling out her name. Du Liniang, hearing his voice, comes to the back garden in spirit form and offers her pillow to Liu Mengmei as a ghost.
Fourth Act: Resurrection. When their love reaches its deepest point, it moves heaven and earth. With the help of Aunt Shi, Du Liniang comes back to life and finally becomes a married couple.
Opening hours: Open all year round from 20:30 to 21:45. For specific performance times, please refer to the product details and be subject to the actual situation of the scenic area.
