Professor Pai Hsien-yung Kenneth, Distinguished Professor-at-Large of CUHK, delivered two public lectures on Kunqu Opera, a traditional form of Chinese performing arts, at the University on 27th and 29th November 2018. Professor Pai explained in the lectures how he introduced Kunqu and the cultural significance behind to different universities in the Greater China and North America. He also shared his experience in producing the youthful rendition of The Peony Pavilion and The Story of Jade Hairpin, and his mission of rejuvenating the Chinese classic performing arts in order to reach out to the younger generation. The two lectures, which were a prelude to the The Peony Pavilion (Students’ Edition) Joint Performance on the coming Sunday, were attended by over 800 CUHK staff, students and members of the public.

The Peony Pavilion (Students’ Edition), which was jointly presented by the CUHK and the Peking University in celebration of the 55th Anniversary of CUHK and the 120th Anniversary of Peking University, was put on at Sir Run Run Shaw Hall, CUHK on 2nd December 2018 (Sunday). The joint performance was directed by Professor Pai, who invited three CUHK alumni, namely Vivian Yuen, Eugenea Cheung and Gabriel Chau, to perform together with the students from Peking University and more than 10 high schools in Beijing. The show was well-received and played to a full house, attracting an audience of over 1,400, among which we could see a sea of young faces. This proves to a success of Professor Pai’s effort in popularising Kunqu on campuses.