Chinese Opera in Contemporary Taiwan: Wei Hai Min 魏海敏 and Her Personae
Friday, October 6, 2023
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT
Myer’s Room
GW Textile Museum
701 21st Street NW Washington, D.C. 20052
Join us for an extraordinary cultural event featuring Wei Hai Min, renowned Chinese Opera performer from Taiwan. Learn how Wei has carried on the timeless legacy of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang and witness her modern interpretation of iconic figures, including Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Medea from the Greek tragedy Medea. Portraying nobility, shrewdness, and melancholy with grace and flair, Wei masterfully redefines Chinese Opera performance through her creation of unforgettable female characters East and West.
Wei Hai Min’s visit to North America is made possible with the support of the Asian Cultural Council. The event offers a unique opportunity for the participants to delve into the essence of Peking Opera. The audience will engage in a cross-cultural dialogue as Wei Hai Min shares her insights gained from a lifetime of dedication to both preserving traditions and pushing the boundaries of innovation in Peking Opera in and beyond the Sinophone world.
About
Speaker
Wei Hai Min is an internationally renowned performing artist. She is an heir of the Mei School established by Mei Lanfang, one of the most renowned Peking opera artists of the 20th century. Ms. Wei excels in interpreting and impersonating diverse roles, both ancient and modern, in the Mei School and other performing styles. Her performance is acclaimed by global audiences and art critics. Her repertoire includes The Drunken Concubine, The White Snake, and Farewell, My Concubine. Over the last three decades, Ms. Wei has been at the forefront of mastering this ancient art form in both the traditional and modern styles, actively exploring new performative horizons.
Moderator
Liana Chen is Associate Professor of Chinese and International Affairs at George Washington University. She is the Director of the Taiwan Education and Research Program. Chen is the author of Literati and Actors at Work: The Transformations of Peony Pavilion on Page and On Stage in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2013) and Staging for the Emperors: A History of Qing Court Theatre, 1683-1923 (Amherst, New York: Cambria Press, 2021). Liana Chen’s areas of teaching and research focus on Chinese drama and theatre, Chinese literature of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and Taiwanese theatre, literature and film. Liana Chen’s research has been supported by the Foundation for Development of Chinese Culture (Taiwan), The American Council of Learned Societies, and Sigur Center for Asian Studies.
