Teachers from Wenzhou-Kean University pose for a group photo with Nanxi Opera artists on Feb 18. [Photo/tmuyun.com]
The two-and-a-half-hour Nanxi Opera show staged at a theater in Rui'an, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province on Feb 18 was well received by foreign teachers from Wenzhou-Kean University, local media outlets reported.
"The operas were inspired by daily life and traditional culture, I like them very much. Though I could not understand much of the lyrics, I was impressed by the artists' costumes and performances," said Robert Belshaw, a British professor who has been teaching at the university since 2020.
Craig Blacklock, a Scottish professor of linguistics who has been living and working in China for seven years, agreed with Professor Belshaw.
Sujatha Krishnamoorthy, an Indian teaching assistant at the computer sciences department, also gave a thumbs-up to the snacks offered during the show.
"Rui'an's traditional pastries are really nice and I enjoyed watching the show while sampling these nice cakes," Krishnamoorthy said.
Originating from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Nanxi Opera is one of the oldest Chinese operas and is highly popular in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces. Its tunes are graceful and pleasant, and full of local color. The old form of choral accompaniment still remains as one of its most distinctive features.
Rui'an is the birthplace of Gao Zecheng, the father of Nanxi Opera.
The Nanxi Opera Research and Promotional Center was set up a few years ago to raise awareness and appreciation for the art form.
