DIE LEGENDE DER WEISSEN SCHLANGE (THE LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE)

Wu Opera, often referred to as a “living fossil” of Chinese opera, traces its origins back to the Ming dynasty. It uniquely blends six traditional vocal and musical styles, preserving centuries-old performance traditions. Characterised by its distinctive blend of literary elegance and martial artistry (“Wen-Wu”), Wu Opera stands out for its rich and dynamic artistic style. The Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Institute preserves and innovates traditional plays, showcasing performers of outstanding technical skill. Their renowned acrobatic skills, including floor training (Tanzi Gong) and weapon techniques (Bazi Gong), captivate audiences with breathtaking feats like the triple jump over three tables, bringing characters to life with striking expressiveness.

The play The Legend of the White Snake is based on a beloved Chinese folk tale and tells the poignant love story of the snake goddess Bai Suzhen and the scholar Xu Xian. The story reflects the deep longings and ethical ideas of Chinese culture about love, freedom, loyalty, sacrifice and human relationships.

The Wu Opera adaptation of this legend captivates with remarkable artistic highlights: Bai Suzhen’s dazzling battle dance in The Procurement of the Magic Herb, Xu Xian’s renowned “13 Falls” scene that vividly portrays his fear and despair, and the green snake Xiaoqing’s sword dance – a stunning fusion of traditional Chinese opera and martial arts, both powerful and graceful.