Yue Opera Marks 120 Years with Landmark Gala Performance

A spectacular gala commemorating the 120th anniversary of Yue Opera, one of China’s most cherished traditional opera forms, aired on May 30, 2026, on CCTV-11, bringing together five generations of performers in a celebration of heritage and innovation. The event, titled “越韵华光·百廿流芳” (Yue Rhyme Splendor · 120 Years of Fragrance), originally premiered live on May 15 at the Shaoxing Olympic Sports Center as the opening ceremony of the 6th China Yue Opera Festival, according to CCTV News.

A Historic Gathering of Talent

The gala assembled 16 top-tier Yue Opera troupes from across China, 22 winners of the prestigious Chinese Plum Blossom Award for Theater, and nearly 100 Yue Opera inheritors. Among the luminaries performing were He Saifei, Mao Weitao, Zhao Zhigang, Shan Yangping, Wang Jun’an, Li Min, Chen Lijun, and many others. The performance showcased all 13 major Yue Opera artistic schools, presenting classic repertoire including excerpts from “The Butterfly Lovers” (梁祝), “The Romance of the Western Chamber” (西厢记), and “Mu Guiying Takes Command” (穆桂英挂帅).

As China Daily reported, the event was structured around the unifying theme of water, tracing Yue Opera’s journey from rural origins to national prominence. A symbolic “water confluence ceremony” saw water collected from five key Yue Opera heritage sites — Shengzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, and Nanjing — merged on stage, representing the art form’s geographic spread and cultural unity.

Voices Across Generations

The gala resonated deeply with performers who reflected on the art form’s journey. Wang Jun’an, an inheritor of the Yin School, expressed profound gratitude: “This commemorative gala is filled with gratitude and reverence. The performers are grateful to their predecessors for pioneering and laying the foundation, especially paying tribute to Mr. Yin Guifang — Fanghua Yue Opera Theater traveled from Shanghai to Fujian, persevering and taking root in a place without any Yue Opera foundation.”

Li Min, Artistic Director of Shaoxing Yue Opera Troupe, noted the significance of hosting the event in Yue Opera’s birthplace: “Being in the birthplace, this grand event fills Yue Opera artists with pride. It looks back at a century of inheritance while showcasing hometown sentiments,凝聚力量 to protect and promote Yue Opera.”

Mao Weitao, Chair of the Zhejiang Dramatists Association, described the gathering as “a grand reunion across generations of Yue Opera artists. This celebration is both a summary and reflection on the past, and a new starting point as Yue Opera enters its third sexagenary cycle.”

Innovation Meets Tradition

The gala pushed artistic boundaries while honoring tradition. Modern AI imaging technology was used to restore and recreate the stage images of earlier masters, enabling cross-generational performances — most notably, artists from different eras performed the classic duet “天上掉下个林妹妹” (A Sister Lin Descends from Heaven) together on stage.

Younger performers also took center stage. Chen Lijun, a National First-Class Actor, told Zhejiang Online: “As a young Yue Opera actor, I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a remarkable new era. Only by approaching tradition with greater reverence can we innovate more boldly, and keep the 120-year-old Yue Opera vibrant and youthful.”

A Cultural Milestone

The gala was jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Arts Department, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, the Shaoxing Municipal People’s Government, and China Media Group. The broadcast on CCTV-11, with a rebroadcast scheduled for June 6 on CCTV-3, underscores the continued institutional support for traditional arts in China.

Looking Ahead

As Yue Opera enters its third sexagenary cycle, the challenges identified by experts include maintaining artistic integrity amid commercialization, nurturing the next generation of performers and audiences, and continuing to innovate without losing the art form’s core identity. The establishment of the Yue Opera College at Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in 2025 represents a significant step toward institutionalizing传承, ensuring that this beloved art form continues to evolve while honoring its rich 120-year legacy.

The gala will be rebroadcast on June 6, 2026, at 21:00 on CCTV-3 (CCTV Variety Channel).