Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe returns to Taiwan after 15 years, performing My Grand View Garden and Garden of Love, delighting audiences and strengthening cultural ties.
From February 25th to 28th, the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe returned to Taiwan after nearly 15 years. Over four days, they staged five performances in Taoyuan and Taipei, presenting the youth-themed Yue Opera My Grand View Garden and the selection Garden of Love. Both productions drew full houses and enthusiastic applause.
Timeless Love Stories on Stage
In Taipei, Garden of Love was performed three times to packed audiences. The performance weaves together classic love tales: the tender farewell in Liang Zhu (梁祝), the bittersweet Burial of Flowers from Dream of the Red Chamber, the romantic encounter in The Peony Pavilion, and the wistful poem of Lu You and Tang Wan.
Audience reactions were lively and heartfelt. Delicate gestures, expressive movements, and lyrical singing captivated both longtime fans and newcomers, creating moments of shared nostalgia and delight.
Revisiting a Classic Through Modern Eyes
Earlier in Taoyuan, the troupe performed My Grand View Garden, a 40th-anniversary production also inspired by Dream of the Red Chamber. The story follows an older Jia Baoyu revisiting his youth in the Grand View Garden, reflecting on love, memory, and life’s fleeting beauty.
Modern stage design brought a fresh, poetic feel to the classic tale. Movable screens and tiered platforms created a dynamic rhythm, immersing the audience in the story. When the lead, dressed in blue, made a daring roll from a raised platform, the crowd gasped, then erupted in applause. Many young viewers discovered Yue Opera for the first time, enchanted by its soft, lyrical charm.
A Long-Standing Cultural Bond
Zhejiang Xiaobaihua’s connection with Taiwan dates back to 1993. Vice President and troupe director Cai Zhefei reflected, “After so many years, we are thrilled to meet both old friends and new audiences.” Lead actress Chen Lijun, performing Jia Baoyu in Taiwan for the first time, added, “The warmth and enthusiasm of the audience moved us deeply. We hope to bring more Yue Opera to Taiwan in the future.”
This tour not only brought classic Yue Opera to audiences in Taiwan but also reinforced cultural ties across the strait, showing how traditional arts can bridge generations and inspire new fans.
Written by Ronnie Yu, additional reporting by CNS, HKCNA.
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