Chinese Opera Cultural Week Makes Debut

On September 23, 2025, the opening ceremony of Chinese Opera Cultural Week jointly organized by National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and China Cultural Center in Stockholm, was successfully held at China Cultural Center in Stockholm. This event marked the first large-scale cultural exchange program in Sweden with Chinese opera as its theme, receiving a warm welcome and significant attention from the local audience. Over a hundred attendees, including representatives from the Embassy of China in Sweden, Swedish cultural circles, overseas Chinese residing in Sweden, and local audience members, were present at the opening ceremony.

Yin Xiaodong, President of National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, expressed gratitude in his speech to the Embassy of China in Sweden, Consulate General of China in Gothenburg, and China Cultural Center in Stockholm for their support. He described traditional Chinese opera as a treasure of Chinese culture, embodying the cultural genes passed down through generations of the Chinese nation. “Chinese Opera Cultural Week” will feature performances of classic Peking Opera repertoire, screenings of opera films, and exhibitions of stage art, combined with diverse activities such as lectures and workshops, to comprehensively showcase the multifaceted charm of Chinese opera. Yin Xiaodong noted that although China and Sweden are geographically distant, their pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty is aligned. He expressed hope that the cultural week would allow Swedish audiences to gain an in-depth understanding of the cultural implications and aesthetic spirit of Chinese opera, as well as the contemporary commitment of opera practitioners to upholding tradition while embracing innovation. He also looked forward to the peoples of both nations illuminating each other’s paths under the brilliant starlight of art and jointly painting a vibrant picture of civilizational dialogue between the two countries.

Dai Weihong, Deputy Director of China Cultural Center in Stockholm, stated in her address that the presence of the artists had made China Cultural Center in Stockholm radiate with brilliance, adding a vibrant Chinese hue to the Swedish autumn. She pointed out that Chinese opera boasts a long and rich history, with Peking Opera, revered as China’s national opera, standing out as a resplendent jewel with its unique charm on the world stage. “Chinese Opera Cultural Week,” through its diverse activities, offers the Swedish public an up-close experience of the profound heritage and endless allure of this traditional Chinese art form, thereby deepening their understanding and awareness of China. She wished the “Chinese Opera Cultural Week” a complete success and expressed her hope that it would serve as a bridge to promote cultural exchange and strengthen friendship between China and Sweden.

During the “China’s Stories” lecture, Associate Professor Li Yanyan from the Department of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera of National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts delivered a presentation titled “Discovering the Beauty of Peking Opera”. With a combination of explanations and demonstrations, she vividly elucidated the role types and performance techniques of Peking Opera, as well as its distinctive artistic features. The audience actively participated in the interactive session and responded with great enthusiasm.

During the “Face-to-Face with Peking Opera Masters”, renowned Peking Opera performing artist Li Shengsu, Associate Professors Ma Shuai and Li Yanyan from Department of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera, and young performer Guo Zhufeng from China National Peking Opera Company engaged in a discussion centered on the classic The Legend of the White Snake, sharing their creative insights and artistic reflections on the work.

During the opening ceremony, “Splendid Colors of the Painted Stage – Exhibition of Chinese Xiqu Stage Art” was concurrently launched. Additionally, five opera films—Peking Opera movies The Lucky Purse, Havoc in Heaven, Women Generals of the Yang Family, as well as Cantonese Opera film White Snake and Fujian Opera film Butterfly Lovers’ Fan—are screened at China Cultural Center in Stockholm, attracting numerous guests who stopped to watch.