This September (2nd and 3rd), New York will
see a production of two grand Beijing operas at the David Koch
Theater of Lincoln Center. Both operas, “The Legend of the White
Snake” and “The Jewelry Pouch,” will feature China’s great Zhang
Huoding, the reigning queen of Beijing opera, giving her first
performances in the U.S. The two leading parts of the operas in
which Mme. Zhang stars are two of her signature roles.
Blessed with a beautiful and expressive face, a voice that suggests
a union of the finest clarinet and violin, and a body that moves in
dance with gracefulness and style, Mme. Zhang glows as a sublime
artist who brings interpretive subtlety, dexterous musicianship, and
high dance technique to the different roles she brilliantly
portrays. Peerless among her peers, Mme. Zhang will mark as the
most distinguished representative of Beijing Opera to visit N.Y.
since the legendary master Mei Lanfang in 1930.
The Renwen Society at China Institute and The Confucius Institute
for Business at the State University of New York jointly present a
pre-lecture on the artistry of Mme. Zhang and the two selected
operas. The speaker is Mr. Ben Wang, the eminent Beijing Opera and
Kunqu scholar and specialist.
Date and time: Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Lecture: 6:00-7:30 pm
Reception: 7:30-8:00 pm
Location: SUNY Global Center, 116 East 55th Street, New York, NY
