Recently, the Jinan Lü Opera Troupe from the Jinan City Opera and Folk Art Center participated in the 121st Rose Festival and International Folk Art Festival in Kazanlak, Bulgaria. This marks the return of Jinan’s Lü Opera to the “Rose Capital” Kazanlak after six years.
Kazanlak’s annual Rose Festival is a national cultural event in Bulgaria, attracting cultural and artistic groups from around the world for performances and exchanges. At this year’s festival, the Jinan Lü Opera Troupe presented excerpts from classic Lü Opera performances such as Sisters Marrying and Borrowing a Relative, along with meticulously choreographed traditional opera water sleeve dances Silk Road East and Pipa Language. They also performed famous Chinese folk music pieces such as Jasmine, Horse Racing, Fragrance in the Night, and Joyful Water-Splashing Festival using traditional Chinese instruments like the sheng, yangqin, and erhu.
Despite the long journey, the entire troupe demonstrated great cohesion and professionalism, preparing and presenting each segment flawlessly. During the Rose Festival’s opening ceremony, the performers’ exquisite displays of Jinan’s local cultural characteristics, along with their bright traditional Chinese opera costumes and makeup, captivated the audience. The performances, rich in traditional Chinese cultural elements and ethnic musical styles, were warmly received by Kazanlak’s citizens, tourists, and local Chinese residents. In the “Colorful Carnival” international folk art parade, the troupe’s entry, marked by the waving of the Chinese national flag, drew enthusiastic cheers from the audience, especially from Chinese expatriates. After the performance, many attendees took photos with the performers.
The impressive performances not only won over the audience but also left a lasting impression on the event organizers and other participating art groups. Local government officials presented the visiting troupe with commemorative certificates and expressed their gratitude, while the troupe members reciprocated with commemorative gifts. Many foreign artists engaged in friendly exchanges and impromptu performances with the troupe, deepening friendships and showcasing the charm of traditional Chinese culture to a broader audience.
(Kuang Qiongqiong; Yuan Yuhua; Li Xiaotong; Gong Lili; Hua Shan; Hou Yawen; Liu Xiaohan; Lou Xinyu; Hui Sheng; Liang Ruixin; Dou Zhuoran)