Asia Society Hosts Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe Performances

Presenting one of the oldest and most beautiful forms of Chinese opera, the Asia Society and Museum brings together 18 performers from China for three special performances by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe from Friday, May 18 to Sunday, May 20.

Kunqu brings together acting, movement, singing and live music in a total theatrical immersion. The Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe is currently one of China’s most renowned traditional theatre companies. These must-see performances include The Lanke Mountain on Friday, Saturday, May 18-19 at 8:00 p.m and The Monkey King: Journey to the West, which is a special performance for families on Sunday, May 20 at 2 p.m.   The Lanke MountainFriday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19 at 8 p.m.  This is a tale of greed, ambition, betrayal and humor; a story which harkens back to a historical past while connecting to contemporary times. The story—a moral tale featuring slapstick comedy—follows the heroine Cui, who divorces her husband and then attempts to reunite with him when he becomes financially successful. A free pre-performance lecture will also take place on Satuday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $20 for members; $22 for students/seniors; and $25 for non-members. ___________________________________________________________________________ The Monkey King: Journey to the WestSunday, May 20 at 2:00 p.m. Presented in association with the Children's Museum of Manhattan, this performance is a Sunday matinee for families. It features the beloved Chinese Monkey King, in the unforgettable classic Journey to the West.  Kunqu performances are accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble, consisting of 6 musicians performing on wind, string and percussion instruments.  Kunqu was developed during the late Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), and is said to have evolved from theatrical forms that go back to the third century B.C.E. Kunqu’s emergence ushered in a golden age of Chinese drama in which it dominated Chinese theatre from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. Banned during the Cultural Revolution and revived in the late 1970s, it is has been listed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2001. The Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe is an internationally renowned, award-winning company that has performed in the United States, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.  Tickets: $15 for members; $17 for students/seniors; and $20 for non-members. Tickets are available for purchase via the Asia Society Box Office at (212) 517-ASIA (Monday to Friday, 1-5 p.m), or online at the Asia Society and Museum.                              About Asia Society  Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Asia Society is a nonprofit nonpartisan educational institution headquartered in New York. Through exhibitions and public programs, Asia Society provides a forum for the issues and viewpoints reflected in the work of Asian and Asian American artists, and in Asia today. Asia Society is located at 725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), New York City.