A scene from Blossoms on a Spring Moonlit Night [Photo provided to China Daily]

New production

In 2007, Zhang quit his job as the deputy director of the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe because he was disappointed with the administration for not providing sufficient support and guidance.

Determined to explore a new way to achieve the sustainable development of Kunqu Opera, he founded Zhang Jun Kunqu Opera Art Center two years later.

The center's production of Peony Pavilion, considered the most beloved Kunqu repertoire, has since been performed 220 times in a vintage garden in Zhujiajiao, located in suburban Shanghai's Qingpu district.

Last year, Zhang's new contemporary production Blossoms on a Spring Moonlit Night won critical acclaim in Shanghai.

Liang Guyin, a Kunqu maestro in her 70s, said after the performance that she was delighted to discover that Zhang has achieved so much for the art form. She admitted that she was previously worried he might not make any progress after leaving the State-owned opera troupe.

Earlier in March, Blossoms on a Spring Moonlit Night was performed in Beijing. A review by Ying Ni of China News Service praised it for "showing Kunqu at its best in today's world". Two more performances were held in Shanghai at the Oriental Art Center on April 1 and 2. Tickets to these shows were sold out weeks ahead.

Nowadays, Zhang continues to champion the art form through talks and performances. In 2016, he was involved in 70 opera shows and 30 lectures. He said that he is now aiming to design a systematic educational program for Kunqu.

When he first began his talks about Kunqu, Zhang would rely heavily on illustrating the movements involved to engage the audience.

These days, he has switched the focus to the literary beauty of the opera, how the art form has evolved through the ages, the story behind each piece, as well as how the characters express their suppressed emotions through poetic words.

As a result, people have learned to appreciate the core aesthetics of Kunqu, said Zhang, who added that he is very heartened by this development.

Zhang revealed that he is currently working on a new production Chang Sheng Dian (Palace of Eternal Life), a classical Kunqu Opera from the 17th century. While the premiere of the performance has yet to be decided, Zhang is looking to present highlights of the performance on May 18.

zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn