Huangmei opera

This fall, Guangming Culture and Art Center marks the fourth anniversary of its official opening.

The cultural landmark of Guangming District is flanked by the Xincheng Park in the north and a Maozhou River tributary in the south.

In front of the building, an artificial pond measuring 170 meters long and 18 meters wide forms the instagrammable “Eye of Light” together with an arched entrance. In addition to the 452-seat concert hall and the art museum, the center also has a 1,500-seat theater, a library and an exhibition hall. The venue has become a go-to venue for art fans in the district, with shows staged regularly since September 2020.

Between October and December, some 20 concerts and shows are scheduled to mark the center’s anniversary.

Led by Huangmei opera star Wu Qiong, the Ma’anshan Four Seasons Opera Theater from Anhui Province will perform “Tian Xian Pei” (“Wed to the Fairy”) late November.

A poster of Huangmei opera “Tian Xian Pei.” Photo from inanshan.sznews.com

One of China’s five major operas together with Beijing opera, Yueju opera, Pingju opera and Yuju opera, Huangmei opera was originally sung by tea-harvesting women and therefore called the “tea-picking tune.” Its arias are simple and smooth, with rich expressiveness.

Based on a Chinese legend, the story evolves around an escapade of Jade Emperor’s youngest daughter who, during a journey to the mortal world, falls in love with a farm hand and marries him. The couple is in the end separated by Jade Emperor who wouldn’t allow his daughter to marry a mortal.

Time: 8 p.m., Nov. 23

Venue: Guangming Culture and Art Center, Guangming District

Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station, Exit B, then walk around 800 meters