China's Huangmei Opera Star Wows US Audience

Han Zaifen, one of China's most acclaimed Huangmei Opera artists, won applause from U.S. audiences on Thursday night, November 4, 2010 with her splendid performance at Columbia University in New York.

Han, founder and president of Anqing Zaifen Huangmei Art Theater of China, impressed the audience with her graceful singing and movements, sweet melodies and beautiful costume. The performance featured most influential Huangmei plays with touching plots and unique stage sets.

"I hope the performance will provide Western audiences with more understandings of China's Huangmei Opera and Chinese culture. I am very impressed with the creative art atmosphere and professional art management here in New York. I would love to have more cooperation with local art groups in the future," said Han.

Gregory Singer, a renowned musician in New York, was impressed by Han's performance. It's "quite new to me," he said.

"It is so beautiful, the music, the costume, the melody. I like it very much," he told Xinhua news agency.

Huangmei Opera is one of the most famous traditional operas in China. Originated as a rural folk song and dance that has been existent for the last two centuries, it has its roots in the tea-harvest songs of Huangmei, China's central Hubei Province, but it did not gain popularity until it was blended with folk songs in neighboring Anhui Province.

Huangmei Opera is easy to understand and learn, thanks to its lyrical tunes, simple words and literary tradition. It excels in expressing emotions and describing personalities. It is considered as "China's country music".