On the morning of August 14th, the “Song-flavored Wenzhou Culture: Legacy of the Nanxi Opera” Nanxi Opera Classic Culture Week (Shanghai Stop) Expert Seminar was held at the antique and stylish century-old building of the Shanghai Opera Art Centre. A total of 15 renowned opera culture experts from Wenzhou, the origin of opera, and Shanghai, the opera hub, engaged in discussions about both the traditional Chinese opera art and the newly adapted trendy operas, exploring the path for the ancient yet vigorous Nanxi Opera to go beyond national borders and go global.

This seminar marks the grand finale of the Nanxi Opera Classic Culture Week (Shanghai Stop) series of activities. Experts from both cities gather together to renew the Shanghai-Wenzhou friendship, share their reflections on the show, and explore the development of the Nanxi Opera. Throughout history, Shanghai has always been the preferred destination for adventurous Wenzhou people. It is home to 600,000 innovative and entrepreneurial Wenzhouese people. Renowned literary critic Mao Shi’an emphasized in his speech that the influx of talented artists from Wenzhou has greatly enriched the artistic prowess of the Shanghai literary circle.

Choosing Shanghai as the inaugural destination for the Nanxi Opera Classic Culture Week is a strategic move, as this international metropolis serves as a vital window for showcasing China’s exceptional traditional culture. It has the potential to become the gateway for the Nanxi Opera Classics to break free from traditional constraints and go to the world.

Teng Junjie, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Federation of Literary and Art Circles, expressed his astonishment, stating that he originally believed that Kunqu Opera, with its 600-year history, was the progenitor of all theatrical genres. However, he now realizes that Kunqu Opera has an “elder” in the form of the Nanxi Opera, which boasts a history of over 900 years. Ancient yet youthful, the Nanxi Opera is both abundant and well-grounded.

Ye Changhai, professor at the Shanghai Theatre Academy and a Wenzhouese opera scholar, jokingly referred to himself as a member of the big family of Wenzhou. He explained that many of the theatrical styles we see today have evolved from Wenzhou’s Nanxi Opera.

Wu Xiaoming, former Artistic Director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, praised the event that has transformed an ordinary occurrence into an extraordinary event and turned a highlight into a sensation. “Operas from Wenzhou” has revealed the origin of the opera - it comes from none other than Wenzhou itself!

Zhang Sicong, Honorary Chairman of the Wenzhou Municipal Federation of Literary and Art Circles and a nationally acclaimed screenwriter, witnessed the initiation of the Nanxi Opera’s new repertoire series project in the late 1990s. He also served as the screenwriter for the Yueju Opera play The Story of the Thorn Hairpin being showcased in this event. “The Nanxi Opera, an artistic treasure trove that has been slumbering for 800 or 900 years, is ripe for extensive exploration,” he shared. “We must understand that theatre is meant to be watched by the audience, and prioritizing aesthetics is of utmost importance.” The Nanxi Opera’s repertoire remains our most distinguishable characteristic, and continuous exploration is necessary to keep it constantly revitalized and cater to the audience’s preferences.

From August 9th to 14th, the Wenzhou Municipal People’s Government, in collaboration with the Shanghai Opera Art Centre and the Shanghai Dramatists Association, held the “Operas from Wenzhou” Nanxi Opera Classic Cultural Week (Shanghai Stop) event in Shanghai. The four performances were packed with enthusiastic attendees, and tickets for the special performances were in high demand. Whether it was on stage, within the theater, or in the virtual space, young individuals with youthful expressions abounded, and the vibrant vitality of traditional culture was witnessed. The ancient art form of the Nanxi Opera is embracing its rejuvenation.