Star performer revitalizes Peking opera

"With such traditional genres facing challenges from contemporary forms of entertainment, it's valuable to have such a great actress, who tries her best to let more people know about this genre."

Known as jingju in Chinese, Peking Opera is more than 200 years old. It combines singing, dancing, martial arts and acrobatics. UNESCO declared it an intangible cultural heritage in 2010.

Zhang, who will be 49 on Jan 24, had the idea of adapting Farewell My Concubine more than 10 years ago. About a month before the show in Beijing on May 25, she announced in a rehearsal room at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts that she would appear in the performance.

She was excited and kept smiling, although she kept her comments brief.

Zhang realized her dream of adapting Farewell My Concubine in collaboration with Peking Opera artist Gao Mukun, 78, and composer Wan Ruixing, 79.

"I'd been dreaming about adapting the piece for over 10 years. I loved the performances of Mei Lanfang and I deeply respect him," Zhang said, referring to the late Peking Opera master.

Farewell My Concubine, which tells the love story between Xiang Yu, a warlord from the Chu Kingdom, and his concubine, Yu Ji, is one of the best-known Peking Operas.

Adapted from the Kunqu Opera Qian Jin Ji, written by Shen Cai during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Farewell My Concubine was first performed in Beijing in 1918 by Peking Opera masters Yang Xiaolou (1878-1938) and Shang Xiaoyun (1900-76).