Kunqu Opera and Guqin Music: An Afternoon of Chinese Performing Arts

Join us for an afternoon of traditional Chinese performing arts, featuring live Kunqu opera performances and classical Chinese instrumental music.

Featuring artists from the Kunqu Opera Society and Classical Chinese Music Society, this event offers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of Kunqu theater and guqin music through live performances and a brief lecture on Chinese musical traditions.

Free and open to the public.

Please note: The event will take place inside Doheny Memorial Library. Please bring your USC ID or a valid government-issued photo ID for entry.

Program:

Part I (2-3:20pm)

1. Guqin Performance: Prelude to Huaxu 華胥引
Brief Lecture: “Through the Cloud: The Aesthetics of Form, Landscape, and Dreams in Chinese Musical Traditions”
Performer and Speaker: Bin Ma 馬玢

2. Kunqu Opera: Painting the Portrait — The Story of the Lute 琵琶記·描容
Performer: Tian’ai Guo 郭天愛

3. Yangqin Performance: Night Escape of Lin Chong 夜奔
Performer: Mingxi Liu 劉茗兮

4. Kunqu Opera: Fleeing by Night — The Story of the Precious Sword 寶劍記·夜奔
Performer: Bin Ma 馬玢

5. Kunqu Opera: Strolling in the Garden — The Peony Pavilion 牡丹亭·遊園
Performers: Bohan Ye 葉博涵, Fang Wei 魏芳

Part II (3:30-5pm)

1. Guqin Performance: Clouds over the Xiao and Xiang Rivers 瀟湘水雲
Performer: Yule Liu 劉雨竻

2. Kunqu Opera: Lamenting the Statue — The Palace of Eternal Life 長生殿·哭像
Performer: Yule Liu 劉雨竻

3. Kunqu Opera: The Zither Courtship — The Jade Hairpin 玉簪記·琴挑
Performer: Tian’ai Guo 郭天愛

4. Kunqu Opera: Getting Drunk Thrice — The Handan Dream 邯鄲記·三醉
Performer: Jeffery Yan 閻凌越

5. Kunqu Opera: Captured Alive — The Water Margin 水滸記·活捉
Performer: Fang Wei 魏芳

Organized by:
Prof. Mengxiao Wang and Prof. Wanmeng Li
Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures

Co-sponsored by:
Levan Institute for the Humanities

With support from:
USC Dornsife GE Course Enhancement Fund