On the evening of January 24th at 7:30 p.m., the magnificent opera extravaganza titled “Operas from Wenzhou - 2023 Nanxi Opera Classic Culture Week Expands to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region Themed Performance” was broadcast simultaneously on CCTV’s Opera Channel “Theatre in the Air” and the yangshipin APP, enchanting viewers nationwide with the rhythmic pulse of the heritage of Nanxi Opera. This performance blended the rich traditions of northern and southern theatrical genres, and bridged ancient and modern times.

Nanxi Opera, originating from Wenzhou during the Song Dynasty(960-1279), is one of China’s earliest and most sophisticated forms of traditional theater, establishing the artistic system and fundamental structure of Chinese opera. As part of the “40th Anniversary of the Chinese Theatre Award - Plum Blossom Performance Award” series, this special performance brought together representatives of Plum Blossom Award winners from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and the Yangtze River Delta. It showcased over ten forms of opera, including Ouju Opera, Yueju Opera, Yongjia Kunqu Opera, Peking Opera, and Hebei Bangzi Opera, representing the pinnacle of contemporary Chinese opera’s artistic expression.

The performance was divided into four chapters. The chapter of “Hometown of the Nanxi Opera” demonstrated the best of the Nanxi Opera, allowing the audience to savor the unique charm of “the origin of all operas”. In the “Four Seasons in Bloom”, accomplished artists from various regions presented opera in different art forms, infusing ancient works with a modern touch. The “Melodious Opera of the Tanghe River” focused on Wenzhou’s local melodic tunes and repertoire, and displayed the rich cultural heritage nurtured by the thousand-year-old Tanghe River. Moreover, the “Fragrance of Plum Blossoms” brought to life the enduring classics, revealing the fresh vitality and elevated standards of opera culture in the new era.

“CCTV Theatre in the Air” is a program on CCTV’s Opera Channel guided by the principle of “diversity, inheritance, innovation, collaboration, and excellence in morality and artistry”. It primarily broadcasts classic full-length operas or one-act operas through live or recorded forms, popularizing opera and cultivating the audience’s appreciation for the art form. The opera special aired this time is the “Operas from Wenzhou - 2023 Nanxi Opera Classic Culture Week Expands to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region Themed Performance”, which took place on November 10th last year at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Exploring the cultural value behind “the origin of all operas” and preserving and innovating the opera culture is the cultural mission of Wenzhou, the birthplace of the Nanxi Opera. Last spring, the CCTV Spring Festival Opera Gala was recorded at the birthplace of opera - Wenzhou Jiushan Association of Dramatists, and the historical fact that “the Nanxi Opera is deemed the progenitor of all operas, with its birthplace situated in Wenzhou” was brought to the public for the first time. In July of the same year, Wenzhou launched the “Operas from Wenzhou” 2023 Nanxi Opera Classic Culture Week, starting in Shanghai and then expanding to Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and other regions. This initiative promoted the fusion and innovation of opera culture, continuously enhancing Wenzhou’s reputation as the “hometown of Nanxi Opera”. In January of this year, this cultural brand was honored as the innovative project for the publicity, ideological, and cultural work in Zhejiang Province for 2023. Moving forward, Wenzhou will harness the resources and advantages of its world Wenzhounese to further establish the cultural brand of “Operas from Wenzhou”, spreading the voice of Wenzhou’s opera globally and sharing the captivating stories of Wenzhou with the world.