Understanding Kunqu in a couple hours

Building on the success of the Peking Opera Lecture held at the Central Library in September, the Kunqu Opera Lecture will take place in December and remain a free event!

Initiated by Facet Music and supported by the Central Library and the Calgary Chinatown Lions Club, this series of events aim to reach Chinese and Western audiences to spark their interest in the art of Chinese Opera.

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The event will take place on Saturday, December 21st from 2pm to 4pm at the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall on the first floor of the Central Library. 

The lecture will cover the origins of Kunqu Opera, the characteristics of its style of singing, and stage features and classic dramas. Interspersed with various vocals, dialogues, and active demonstrations, the lecture will also include a live performances of the famous Peony Pavilion (牡丹亭).

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Lecturer: Vivian Lee
Master of Arts, Department of Drama, Chinese Culture University in Taiwan.
Specializing in drama theory and Kun Opera performance.

Vivian Lee was one of the first to graduate from the Kunqu Opera School in Taiwan. A full-time researcher and a student of art, Vivian went to Hangzhou to learn from famous actor Wang Fengmei who received the Plum Blossom Award.  She has been praised by many Kunqu Opera artists as the temperament closest to the "Peony Pavilion" Du Li Niang. She has given several public lectures at the Calgary Middle School and at the University of Calgary.

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The lecture will be interpreted live into English by Mr. Louis Huang. Louis graduated from the University of Calgary and has assisted with translation work at University Consortium Conferences and volunteered with dissertation translation from Chinese to English.

Date & Time: Saturday, Dec 21 2019, 2pm-4pmf

Location: Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall on the first floor of the Central Library (800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0E7)

Admission: FREE

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