Worldwide search for Du Liniang performers

For centuries, Du Liniang, the female character created by Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) dramatist Tang Xianzu in the classic play The Peony Pavilion in Kunqu Opera, a 600-year-old Chinese operatic form, has attracted and influenced people with her courageous pursuit of love and liberty. More than a romantic heroine, she represents a daring rebellion against rigid feudal norms, while her dreamlike journey blurs the boundaries between life and death, desire and reality.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Kunqu Opera's inscription on UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. To mark the occasion and promote this ancient art form, the Global 100 Du Liniangs Promotion activities were announced to kick off in Beijing on Jan 31.

Organized by the Edinburgh Art Committee for Global Kunqu Opera Promotion and the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre in Beijing, the activities will choose 100 Du performers through three categories of selection.

The first of them, the legendary category, will aim to choose 10 professional Kunqu Opera performers from 10 Kunqu Opera troupes on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong and Macao who can play the role of Du. They should not only possess sophisticated skills in performance, but also accurately portray the inner world of this character.

In the cross-genre category, 10 performers who have played the role in other genres of art forms, like Huangmei Opera, a regional opera that's popular in Hubei and Anhui provinces, Yueju Opera, a traditional opera originating from Zhejiang province, and even ballet, will be selected.

"As the source of numerous operas, Kunqu Opera's aesthetic charm is not isolated, but can be traced to many other types of art forms," says Yang Yuexi, a coordinator for the project. "We are not striving to subvert the tradition, but to see more collisions between different artistic languages and Kunqu Opera. We want to make people discover that the beauty of Kunqu can be understood in different ways, so that more people may develop an interest in this opera."

The international category is open to young people who are not necessarily professionals, but lovers of Kunqu Opera, no matter their gender or nationality. As long as they love the opera and appreciate Du's spirit, they can take part in the selection. The organizing committee will offer guiding materials for them to learn and perform, and the final 80 winners will be chosen for their passion for the art, their innovative ideas to add light to the art or their efforts promoting the art form, says Yang.

The final 100 winners may have the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival and communicate with professionals and amateur opera lovers from across the world, she says.

Since 2021, the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre has promoted Kunqu Opera on the global stage and achieved some success.

In 2024, the Kunqu Opera play Legend of the White Snake achieved a historic breakthrough by winning the award for Best Production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe's Asian Art Awards. This was followed last year by the sold-out sensation of the experimental Kunqu Opera piece The Story of Stone.

"Since Kunqu Opera, represented by The Peony Pavilion, has demonstrated its international influence on Eastern aesthetics, we should build a broader platform to make its beauty available to more people," says Wang Hongbo, a member of the Edinburgh Art Committee for Global Kunqu Opera Promotion.

Award-winning artist and veteran Kunqu Opera actress Wei Chunrong says that for Kunqu Opera performers, Du Liniang transcends the role of a mere classical stage character — she represents an artistic summit, one that demands a lifetime of devotion to ascend.

"Art knows no boundaries, for the pursuit of beauty and love is a language understood by all. The Global 100 Du Liniangs Promotion carries this meaning. Promoting Kunqu Opera is not merely about sharing an art form, but also about passing on the spirit and cultural connotations embodied by characters like Du," she says.