A stellar cast of the Butterfly Lovers premiered at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Tuesday. Representatives of the eight schools of Yueju opera comprised an incredibly strong lineup for the show.

Nine Yueju opera singers shared the stage to render the ancient romance with fresh elan. Wang Jun'an, Wu Fenghua, Chen Fei, and Xie Qunying were among the stellar lineup of Plum Blossom Award winners and 'A-List' national actors.

Xie Qunying, Yueju Opera actor, said, "The Fan School of singing is profound and rustic. While the Yin school is soft and tender a sharp contrast to the high and boiling tunes found in the Xu school. Our show is a combination of all eight schools."

The nine singers were divided into five couples to perform classic excerpts of the Butterfly Lovers. The same role was given voice by more than one performer. This allowed audiences of varying tastes to be exposed to and enchanted by the different schools of opera.

The recreation of classic repertory is considered an embodiment of Wuyue culture in South and East China where Yueju opera originated some one-hundred-and-fifty years ago.

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