Dazzling start to Shanghai Arts Festival

Lavish settings, gorgeous costumes, soul-stirring music and innovative choreography marked the opening of the 10th Shanghai International Arts Festival (SIAF) at the Shanghai Grand Theater on Saturday evening.

The Nanjing Qianxian Song and Dance Company presented the extravagant dance spectacle, Peony Pavilion, a 16th-century tale of love, death and resurrection written by Tang Xianzu (1550-1616). This Chinese drama has served as inspiration for a number of artists from all kind of genres - from Kunqu Opera to drama and ballet.

Choreographed by Ying Zhiqi, Lu Ling and Wu Ning, this four-act full-length dance revolves around the love between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei, a love that extends over three lifetimes. Fang Ming composes the score, while award-winning dancer Hu Qinxin is Du and Xu Peng plays Liu.