Debrecen will host the opening of a unique European cultural program in early April. China’s Zhejiang Wu Opera will present the legend of the White Snake in Vienna and, in Hungary alone, in Debrecen. This outstanding work of the traditional Chinese Wu opera style will be performed on 1 and 2 April 2025 at the 160-year-old Csokonai Theatre.
As part of a special European cultural collaboration, the Zhejiang Wu Opera Company will come to Debrecen in early April. The Legend of the White Snake, a traditional Chinese opera, will be performed in Debrecen on 1 and 2 April 2025 at the Csokonai Theater, the only venue in Hungary to do so. After the Debrecen premiere, the company will travel to Vienna, where the work will also be performed.
The Wu opera
Wu opera, also known as Jinhua opera, has a history of more than 500 years. It takes its name from Wuzhou, the former name of Jinhua. Combining six different vocal styles, Wu opera is a genre of folk origin, with stories focusing on everyday life, music that is clear and resonant, a lively and emotional performance, and costumes that are brightly colored and eye-catching.
The Legend of the White Snake
The legend of the white snake is based on a tale from Chinese folklore. Bai Suzhen, the white snake, has been practicing his magical powers and taking human form for thousands of years. Immortal but lonely, he longs to live among mortals. On one occasion, he arrives in Hangzhou with the green snake, where he meets Xu Xian, an assistant at a herb shop on the shores of Lake West. They immediately fall in love and get married.
However, the monk Fahai from Jinshan Temple realizes that his wife’s human form is hiding snakes and decides to separate the couple. The white snake’s true form is revealed on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, which scares Xu Xian to death. Bai Suzhen steals the celestial herb from Kunlun Mountain to revive Xu Xian; then floods Jinshan Temple to get her husband back; and finally, after much tribulation, they meet again at the Broken Bridge of West Lake. Bai Suzhen’s perseverance and love finally touches Xu’s heart, and the story has a happy ending.
The Legend of the White Snake opera features a sophisticated and melodic singing style, versatility, lyrical and martial elements complementing each other. Powerful gongs and drums create a dynamic atmosphere. Modern art forms are also incorporated into the performance. For example, the broken bridge scene is a lyrical excerpt with martial elements, combining serious drama with comic effects.
Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Center (Zhejiang Wu Opera Company)
The Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Center, formerly Zhejiang Wu Opera Company, was founded in 1956. Over the decades, the company has built up a considerable reputation. Their outstanding performance, The Broken Bridge, won the title of “The Most Outstanding Bridge of All Time”.
Detailed information and tickets are available on the Csokonai National Theater website here: https://csokonaiszinhaz.hu/en/plays/the-legend-of-the-white-snake
