With an average age of 28 years, they are among the top opera singers of the Zhejiang Peking Opera & Kunqu Opera Art Theatre, the Jiangsu Peking Opera Theatre and Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre.

Tomorrow's show is especially dedicated to the dan role, which is the lead female role.

Anyone who has seen Chen Kaige's movie "Farewell, My Concubine" will be deeply impressed with the dan cross-actor Cheng Dieyia.

In the old times, all roles in Peking Opera, men or women, were acted out by male actors.

But nowadays, the dan role is mainly performed by female singers.

Eight female singers will present scenes from the Peking Opera classics which include "Beauty Zhao Jun Leaves the Frontiers," "The Matchmaker," and "Farewell, My Concubine."

(Shanghai Star 04/20/2001)