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To celebrate Chinese Valentine’s Day, which falls on August 25 this year, Pingtan artist Lu Jinhua will stage some crossover performances that incorporate the elements of Pingtan into a romantic musical titled “Across the Milky Way to Meet You.”
Lu, from the Shanghai Pingtan Troupe, writes, directs and performs in the fusion work. From a female perspective, she adapts four Chinese love tales from different historical periods. Her script is inspired by ancient folklore tales and real-life romantic stories. The eye-catching set of the show will feature Pingtan in juxtaposition with a unique, rugged, stylistic folk singing performance by Shanxi Province ballad singer Zhang Gasong.
Performed with a pipa (Chinese lute) and a three-stringed instrument, Pingtan is an age-old theatrical art combining singing and storytelling in a Suzhou dialect. It is well known for its storytelling, joke cracking, music playing and aria singing. Over the passing years, Lu has made several innovative and crossover attempts, such as introducing contemporary clothing and music genres like jazz and rock’n’roll to her Pingtan performances.
Lu said that she is trying to present new interpretations of the Pingtan art. Her crossover attempts have been inspired by the open and vibrant culture of Shanghai. In her eyes, Pingtan is an art form that has big possibilities to flourish, thanks to the livestreaming platforms promoting the art to a wider audience.
Date: August 25-26, 7:30pm, Tickets: 280-580 yuan, Tel: 5862-1862
Venue: 1862 Fashion Art Center, Address: 1777 Binjiang Ave, Pudong New Area
More fascinating tales from China:
Qixi Festival: Four romantic destinations for a Chinese Valentine’s date
China: Tourists enjoy summer boat trips on ancient canal