Kunqu Opera "Peony Pavilion" a cooperative effort by Japanese kabuki Master Bando Tamasaburo and Suzhou Kunqu Company, premiered on March 6 in Kyoto's Minami-za. The sensational performance drew attention from Japan despite a relatively high ticket price, and tickets still fell short of demand.

Three Traits

Firstly, on the initiative of Bando Tamasaburo, Duihua, the traditional performance style, has been revived in "Peony Pavilion." Second, through the cooperation of Chinese and Japanese artists, "Peony Pavilion" initiated a new performance technique which was for the first time jointly performed by two actors. Third, as a way to revive Nandan (a traditional performance style in which a female is role performed by a male), in "Peony Pavilion" the leading female role, Du Liniang, is played by actor Bando Tamasaburo.

Born in 1950, Bando Tamasaburo is the most representative Kabuki actor in Japan. To perform "Peony Pavilion" perfectly, he learned Chinese librettos and dialogues from famous artist Zhang Jiqing, trying to present a different Du Liniang.

As reported, the cooperative "Peony Pavilion" will run through March 25 in Kyoto, and then they will give their performances to Beijing’s audiences in May.