To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first performance of Chinese classic opera “Wilderness” and the 110th anniversary of the foundation of Peking University, “Wilderness”, which is adapted from Cao Yu's masterpiece with the same name, will be staged at the Centennial Hall of Peking University on May 9, 2008. The performance is one of the series of “Aesthetic & Art Salon” hosted by Institute for Cultural Industries, Peking University.

Masterpieces of Cao Yu who was a Great Chinese Playwright
As a renowned Chinese playwright, Cao Yu was regarded as “China's Shakespeare” and hold the incontestable position in the history of Chinese Modern Drama through his unremitting art spirit of exploration. His most well-known works are “Wilderness” (1937) as well as “Thunderstorm” (1934), “Sunrise” (1936) and “Peking Man” (1941).

Composer Jin Xiang: I was Much Moved by “Wilderness”
As a contemporary Chinese composer, conductor and music critic, Jin Xiang is regarded as "the Oriental Puccini" and “the Representative of the Contemporary Oriental New Romanticism” by the foreign media. His works are warmly welcomed by Chinese and foreign audiences with his distinctive personality, his strong aesthetic sense, and the excellent combination of modern western composing techniques and traditional eastern aesthetics.

Opera “Wilderness” will be a Great Performance after 20 Years' Perfection
Opera “Wilderness” is the first Chinese opera that was appreciated by the Western world. The 2007 edition of“Wilderness” which will be performed at Peking University is specially for the 20th anniversary of its first performance with an extraordinary crew: composer Jin Xiang, adaptation writer Wan Fang who is a renowned writer and the daughter of Cao Yu, and director Li Daochuan who directed the first performance of opera“Wilderness”.