Old masters onstage again

Zhang was trained by Mei Baojiu (1934-2016), Mei Lanfang's son and also a famous nandan performer.

"Farewell My Concubine was the first piece I learned with Mei Baojiu. I can still remember him showing me the movements of the sword dance, a famous part of the show, in the former residence of Mei Lanfang in Beijing. It was a small courtyard, and I practiced the dance over and over again," recalls Zhang, who started to learn Mei-style performance when she was 17.

Now, Zhang works with the Jingju Theater Co of Beijing. This year, the company will launch a series of classic shows by Mei Lanfang to mark the 130th anniversary of his birth in 2024.

In the movie, 83-year-old Peking Opera actor Li Changchun plays the role of Xiang Yu. According to Qian, it has been eight years since Li performed onstage.