Diva driven to keep opera alive

Peking opera performer and producer Wang Yuzhen has been wowing audiences for more than 40 years. Today, the dean of the prestigious Beijing Peking Opera House is leading a campaign to put the dramatic art well and truly back in the spotlight.

Speaking at the Beijing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference yesterday, she said: "Beijing needs more theaters catering to people of all levels of appreciation."

While grand theaters like Zhonghe, Guanghe and Kaiming in the Qianmen area still attract loyal support, opera fans lack choice, and many shows are designed to appeal primarily to tourists, she said.