SOME of China's best exponents of traditional opera will perform in Shenzhen on Saturday (Nov 5) during a three-city concert tour that also includes Guangzhou and Foshan.

There will be 13 top artists in all, representing eight of the country's major opera schools, namely Beijing opera, Kunqu opera, Hebei clapper opera, Shaoxing opera, Huangmei opera, Sichuan opera, Henan opera and Guangdong opera.

The performers are Beijing opera artists Geng Qichang, Liu Changyu, Zhang Huoding, Wang Lijun, Shang Changrong and Zhu Shihui; and Zhang Jingxian, a well-known Kunqu opera artist; Hebei clapper opera artist Xu Heying; Shaoxing opera artists Zhao Zhigang and Hu Meiling; Huangmei opera artist Ma Lan; Sichuan opera artist Chen Zhilin; and Guangdong opera artist Chen Xiaohan.

The government-backed concert will offer Shenzheners a rare chance to enjoy a feast of traditional Chinese opera. China has more than 300 types of traditional opera. The eight that will be on view that night are among the most popular.

The three-city tour is expected to revive interest in traditional Chinese opera.

Editor: Wing