Henan TV's celebrated opera program, Springtime at the Pear Garden, marked its 30th anniversary with a special performance, Pear Garden Lyrical Melodies, held at Vienna's Golden Hall at 7:30 pm, Jan 8 local time.
The evening featured a captivating journey through Chinese opera, with three sections titled Stories from China, Elegance in the Pear Garden and Harmony and Beauty Shared across Cultures. These segments showcased a rich variety of Chinese operatic traditions, including Yu opera, Peking opera, Pu opera, as well as instrumental music, highlighting the enduring appeal of China's artistic heritage.
The program included performances of iconic Chinese melodies such as the Spring Festival Overture, Dance of the Golden Snake and Frühlingsstimmen, alongside excerpts from Yu opera, such as Hua Mulan and Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan. Other highlights included the Pu opera piece Hanging the Painting, the Peking opera excerpts from The Drunken Concubine and songs like Jasmine Flower and My Motherland and Me.
Under the baton of conductor Peng Jiapeng, and performed by the Beethoven Philharmonie, the evening brought together renowned artists such as Dai Yuqiang, Xiao Xiangyu, Li Shujian and Wang Quanzhen. The performance also featured members of both Chinese and Viennese children's art troupes, creating an unforgettable cross-cultural exchange.
Since its debut in 1994, Springtime at the Pear Garden has remained true to its original aspiration for three decades, accompanying audiences through numerous weekends. The show's unique format, with its opera fan competitions, has connected generations of viewers to the vibrant world of Chinese opera.
