Pingtan moves online

Born and raised in Shanghai, Gao grew fond of the art form by listening to pingtan programs on radio. He attended Shanghai Traditional Opera School to learn pingtan as a teenager.

Over the years, he has been trying different ways to popularize the art form. He mixes pingtan with different music genres such as rock, world music and classical music.

He performed pingtan in Lust, Caution, a 2007 thriller set in 1942 Shanghai and directed by Ang Lee. Gao's "subtle singing and frequent changing rhythms reflected the characters' emotions and anxiety on screen very well", according to a critic of the movie.

"I had never watched livestreamed shows before I actually started to prepare for my first such show. I thought it belonged to young people. I now find it exciting and challenging. It has also inspired me to do more online shows to help young people learn about pingtan," he says.

The Shanghai troupe has been sharing videos of rehearsals and practice sessions of elderly artists since February to promote pingtan.

New approach

With streaming apps becoming increasingly popular entertainment options during the outbreak, other traditional art forms have also found new audiences.

For example, shows by Shan Tianfang, a late pingshu (storytelling) master, are among the most listened-to artists on Himalaya FM, a podcast app.

Besides Shanghai Pingtan Troupe, more artists of traditional art forms are adapting to the new circumstances by livestreaming shows. Artists of Peking Opera, Yueju Opera and Kunqu Opera were giving online shows on Douyin from March 26 to 30.

Performers from Beijing-based Hip-hop Cross-talk Club have been streaming two-hour performances at 8 pm local time since Feb 17.

Led by the club's founder, Gao Xiaopan, the shows feature crosstalk of different forms such as dankou (monologue), duikou (performed by two) and qunkou (performed by three or more people), as well as other traditional folk arts such as pingshu and kuaiban (a traditional talk show recited to the rhythm of bamboo clappers).

Kunqu Opera artist Zhang Jun livestreamed a show on March 1 on seven major streaming sites that attracted over 1 million viewers. Since Feb 14, he has been livestreaming shows every night, displaying his diverse skills.

With a history of about 600 years, Kunqu Opera was listed as an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2001.

Zhang, who learned to perform at age 12, founded the Zhang Jun Kunqu Opera Center in Shanghai in 2009 to keep pushing the boundaries of the art form.

"It's a new way to keep the ancient art form alive through online programs. I sing, dance, do physical training, explain Kunqu Opera and chat in real time with the audience, who may have never watched Kunqu Opera before and could become fans," Zhang tells Shanghai-based Xinmin Evening News.