Playing wise women

Yuan Huiqin is known for her lao dan (old female roles) performances. [Photo provided to China Daily]

On Friday, Yuan will lead a team of young Peking Opera artists of the National Peking Opera Company on their tour of Kazakhstan, Russia and Sweden.

Peking Opera has a history of more than 200 years and was declared a world intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2010.

During the trip, Yuan will give two lectures in each country, combining history and techniques of Peking Opera with demonstrations of classical pieces such as San Cha Kou (Divergence) and Ba Wang Bie Ji (Farewell My Concubine).

She will also introduce another Chinese art form, the Kunqu Opera, in her lectures, and artists will perform parts of The Peony Pavilion, a play by Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) writer Tang Xianzu.

The students of theater in the countries they will visit are expected to be among the main audience.

"I have performed abroad many times but I have never been to these three countries. It will be a new experience for me," says Yuan, who will visit St. Petersburg, Astana, Goteborg and other cities.

She has taught traditional Chinese operas at Peking University and Wuhan University in China. But Yuan says she will use a different approach in the three countries where students need to know more about Chinese culture.

"Peking Opera is beyond performing arts. There is a profound culture behind it, especially the traditional Chinese philosophies and values, such as patriotism, loyalty and honesty," says Yuan, who has been working with the Beijing-based National Peking Opera Company since 1993.

"I want to share these great cultures with Western audiences."

Yuan, who was born in Yichang, Hubei province, is credited with reviving the performing style of lao dan roles and is known for her performances in Peking Opera repertories.

At age 10, Yuan, the only child of her intellectual parents, was chosen to study Peking Opera in a local art school in Yichang thanks to her talent in singing and dancing.