Opera's classic beauty

Xi Shi, dubbed one of the four beauties of ancient China, lived during the late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), and played an important role in the war between the Kingdoms of Wu and Yue.

The National Center for the Performing Arts is presenting, for the first time, an opera version of this classic story.

Says Deng Yijiang, the opera's producer, "it tells a story of China's most beautiful lady by utilizing opera, the most international art language". The production's all-star cast and crew also make it a highly-anticipated production. It gathers almost all of Chinese top opera singers such as Zhang Liping, Dai Yuqiang, Xu Xiaoying and Wei Song.