Elena Protchenko, a journalist from Ukraine's CATV, is amazed at the skills of a Lyu Opera performer. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Jinan's Lyu Opera has been gaining more international attention in recent years.
The Jinan Lyu Opera Theatre has trained a group of professional performers and has participated in many international cultural exchange activities, forging strong relationships with many countries along the way.
As one of the eight major operas in China, Lyu Opera features diverse tunes, relatable lyrics and beautiful melodies that have a history of more than 100 years. It is also classified as a Chinese national intangible cultural heritage.
Plays created by the theatre have won more than 100 awards in national and provincial art competitions. Some of its works have even been performed in Russia, Jordan, South Korea and other countries. It is one of the few local operas to have found success abroad.
Zhang Ling, director of the theatre, said that the themes of Lyu Opera are intimately related to the daily lives of ordinary people and have become a popular form of drama.
"During international exchange activities, we prefer songs with distinctive Chinese characteristics, especially those which incorporate Jinan's local culture, such as Yimeng Mountain Minor and Song of the Phoenix," said Zhang.
A poster shows artists from Jinan Lyu Opera Theatre perform in Russia in celebration to the 70 anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia. [Photo/ijinan.e23.cn]
Jinan Lyu Opera Theatre staged a series of amazing drama performances in Jordan during the 2017 China-Arab Cultural Journey along the Silk Road, which received wide acclaim.
In the same year, the group also showcased the charms of Lyu Opera in Suwon, South Korea with a series of performances that were broadcast by local news media.
In June 2018, performers of the theatre visited Kazanlak, Bulgaria and put on a series of stunning cultural performances and parades in celebration to the city's 115th Rose Festival and the fifth anniversary of the founding of sister city ties between Jinan and Kazanlak.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia, a group of 16 performers for the theatre staged performances in Russia, highlighting both Russian style and traditional Chinese features.
"I hope that more overseas performances will be held by the Jinan Lyu Opera Theatre so that more people can enjoy the splendor and charm of traditional Chinese opera," said Alevtina Donskikh, deputy editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper.
