PHNOM PENH, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The iconic Chaktomuk Theater here in the capital of Cambodia came alive on Friday evening as its grand hall brimmed with dazzling lights, music, and applause when spectators enjoyed Wu Opera, a centuries-old art form from East China's Zhejiang Province.
Performed by a troupe of artists from the China Zhejiang Wu Opera Research Center to celebrate the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, the event attracted approximately 800 spectators.
At the event, the Zhejiang Wu Opera troupe performed six classic pieces, including "Lyu Bu Tries the Horse," "The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers," "Divergent Path," Hui Hu Solo "Hui Tune," Suona Solo "Picking Dates," and "Three Triumphs Over the Skeletal Demon."
Cambodian artists also entertained the audience with Apsara (fairy) dance, one of the traditional dances of the UNESCO-listed Royal Ballet of Cambodia.
Each of the performances had drawn hearty rounds of applause.
Phav Sophy, a sophomore at the Institute of Foreign Language under the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the Wu Opera was truly amazing and helped her better understand China's diverse culture, tradition and customs.
"This is the first time I've watched this performance, and I really like it," she told Xinhua after watching the show.
"They (artists) are very talented and capable of performing their roles very well," the 23-year-old student said. "I feel that this show is unique and amazing."
Sophy said such a performance was crucial to help promote cultural exchanges between China and Cambodia, contributing further to building a stronger Cambodia-China relationship.
Wu Opera, also known as Jinhua Opera, is the second major theatrical genre in Zhejiang Province, and has a history of more than 500 years.
It got its name from Wuzhou, the ancient name of Jinhua, and remains very popular there. In June 2008, Wu Opera was listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona said the event was crucial to further deepening cultural relations and people-to-people exchange between Cambodia and China.
"This will enable Cambodian spectators to gain better insights into ancient Chinese tradition, culture, and civilization," she said in her opening speech.
She said the Chinese New Year is broadly celebrated in Cambodia as it is a special occasion for family gatherings, particularly among Cambodians of Chinese descent.
Meanwhile, the minister expressed her heartfelt gratitude to China for having always provided both technical and financial support for the preservation and development of arts and culture in Cambodia.
Thong Mengdavid, deputy director at the China-ASEAN Studies Center of the Cambodia University of Technology and Science, said this cultural show is a meaningful example of people-to-people and cultural diplomacy between Cambodia and China, connecting the two countries' cultures that go beyond celebration.
"Such an event shows the shared appreciation of Asian civilizations, reinvigorating the cultural foundation of Cambodia-China relations," he told Xinhua. ■
