On the evening of December 6, the Concert Hall of the School of Art and Design, Taizhou University, was ablaze with bright lights and filled with melodious opera tunes. The special gala themed “Grateful for the Moments · Inheriting the Classics” was staged to mark Taizhou’s “Opera Enters Campus” initiative and the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of Qiufeng Hongyan Drama Club.
The event was co-hosted by Taizhou Dramatists Association and the Youth League Committee of the School of Medicine of Taizhou University, and organized by Qiufeng Hongyan Drama Club. Present were Liang Jing, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of Taizhou Dramatists Association; Ying Xianfang, Vice Chairman of Taizhou Dramatists Association; Luo Hesheng, Consultant of Taizhou Dramatists Association; Zhou Min, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Medicine; as well as instructors, alumni members of the drama club, and representatives of current faculty and students. All attendees gathered to appreciate the charm of traditional opera and share the profound sentiment of cultural inheritance.
Rooted in TU for 22 years, Qiufeng Hongyan Drama Club has always taken it as its mission to promote traditional opera culture and cultivate the moral sentiment of young people. The gala is not only a vivid practice of the initiative of “Opera Enters Campus”, but also a heartfelt review of the club’s development. It aims to build a stage for gratitude and inheritance through the performance of classic opera works, unite the club’s new and veteran members, and inject contemporary vitality into traditional opera on campus.
With both heartfelt devotion and professional excellence, the gala not only welcomed the return of several veteran club members who graduated many years ago to the stage, but also saw the enthusiastic guest performances by artists from Taizhou Dramatists Association, jointly presenting a spectacular and captivating opera feast for the audience.
Opening Performance
Wonderful Repertoires
Wonderful Repertoires
The gala opened with the theme of “Grateful Gathering”. As the lights dimmed gradually, the event theme “Grateful for the Moments · Inheriting the Classics” appeared on the large screen. Accompanied by the rhythmic beats of traditional opera gongs and drums, the hall was instantly immersed in the unique atmosphere of a traditional opera stage. The opening dance Fly-whisk kicked off the gala with its graceful movements.
The gala was structured into three chapters — “Gifts of Time”, “Guardianship of Eternal Flame” and “Invitation from the Future”. Classic excerpts of Yue Opera, including Chasing the Fish· Study Room, Pearl Pagoda· Departure for the Capital and Wang Laohu abducts the Bride· Sending to the Boudoir, were staged in succession, featuring melodious singing and artistic appeal. The Wu Opera Sitting with the Dowager in the White Tiger Hall and Yue Opera excerpts Beating the Princess· Storming the Palace and Meeting at the Tower· Lovesickness· Sending Brother Off presented a perfect blend of strength and grace, fully demonstrating the diverse charm of traditional opera art.
Veteran club members, together with current members in collaborative performances, revisited their stage days and conveyed their enduring love for opera art with their solid professional skills and heartfelt interpretations. The professional performances by guest artists added a strong artistic touch to the gala, whose delicate singing and expressive acting won rounds of applause from the audience, offering teachers and students a close-up experience of the profound heritage and exquisite craftsmanship of traditional opera art.
Group Photo
The gala drew to a close amid prolonged applause. Club members expressed their sincere gratitude to all the performers for their heartfelt performances, the behind-the-scenes staff for their silent dedication, and every member of the audience for their enthusiastic company. Liu Quan, a member of the Club from the Class of 2008, took the stage on behalf of the club’s alumni to deliver a speech. Unable to conceal his excitement, he said, “returning to my alma mater feels like reliving my youthful dreams! I feel rather happy and proud to see the club thrive today—twenty-two years has passed. The time flies, but our love for traditional opera remains unchanged. May Qiufeng Hongyan Drama Club flourish and may the flowers of traditional opera bloom forever on campus!” As his voice faded, applause erupted once again. All the performers and guests took a collective curtain call, and the gala concluded successfully in a warm and touching atmosphere.
The current club members all expressed that it was a rare learning opportunity to closely experience the grace and charm of the veteran members and artists. The perseverance of the seniors and the exemplary performances of the guests have made them more deeply appreciate the charm of traditional opera art and the responsibility of cultural inheritance. In the future, they will continue to devote themselves to the learning and promotion of opera, and attract more students to appreciate the beauty of traditional art.
The successful holding of the special gala marks a solid step forward for Taizhou’s “Opera Enters Campus” initiative toward university-local collaboration and long-term education. It also serves as an important review of the 22-year development of Qiufeng Hongyan Drama Club, and a vivid practice of the deep integration of traditional culture and campus life. In the future, the drama club will take it as a new starting point, continue to uphold the tenet of cultural inheritance and innovation, gather the strength of alumni and professional resources, further play its role as a campus-based platform for opera culture, and contribute more youthful energy to advancing the “Opera Enters Campus” initiative, enriching campus culture, and strengthening young people’s cultural confidence.
