World-acclaimed Chinese opera artists will put on a special educational performance tonight in their first Hong Kong tour.

The artists are winners of the Plum Blossom Award which has been dubbed the "Chinese Oscar" - the highest artistic award in Chinese opera.

Since 1983, the Plum Blossom Awards have honored stage performers who have made significant contributions to Chinese opera.

In 2005, an art troupe formed by the award winners was established by the Chinese Theatre Association, and it has since performed and promoted Chinese opera in different countries.

Jointly organized by the China Federation of Literary & Art Circles and the Chinese Dramatists Association, the art troupe will have its only performance in the city today at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

A variety of repertoires will be featured, including excerpts from different Chinese opera genres, such as Kunqu opera's "The Peony Pavilion", and Yueju opera's "Dream of the Red Chamber".

Some of the performers are Jingju artists Shang Changrong, chairman of the Chinese Theatre Association, Li Weikang, Liu Changyu and Kunju artist Pei Yanling.

Before they leave on Friday, the art troupe will give a private performance for the Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Dong Wei, head of the art troupe said they hope to enhance cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland through their first performance in the city.

"We will return next time with some more good programs for Hong Kong audiences," he said.

(HK Edition 12/02/2008 page1)