China’s first Chamber music version of Peking Opera Farewell to my Concubine made a global premiere in Shanghai on December 15.

Produced by Opera actress Shi Yihong, Composer Jin Fuzai, music conductor Wang Yongji and violinist of Shanghai Peking Opera Chen Lei, the new version of traditional Peking Opera combines advantages of Western symphony music on the basis of adhering the core of Peking Opera.

According to Shi, after years of performing Peking Opera, she found that western audience cannot understand the sound structure of Jinghu, gongs and drums in Peking Opera’s accompaniment. They sometimes think the accompaniment is noisy, so that will be a big obstacle for Peking Opera to be accepted by the western audience.

“We have conducted several performances in Metropolitan Museum of Artthis year. It was in a Chinese- style garden courtyard which could only hold 70 audiences. The audiences are quite near the actors. Although it has caused sensation, after the show, some appreciators pointed out the accompaniment was too noisy.” said Shi.

As expected, the experimental opera is praised for getting through the gap between the traditional Chinese opera language and the Western symphony.

“It is an attempt that should be made sooner or later. We not only want to make more foreign people accept and love Peking Opera, but also attract more Chinese young to enjoy it." added Shi. In future, she will make more attempts in innovating the Peking opera to further develop the Chinese quintessence.