Zhang Jun (opera singer)

Zhang Jun
Born 張軍
October 1974 (age 43–44)
Shanghai, China
Nationality Chinese
Occupation Opera singer, actor

Zhang Jun (simplified Chinese: 张军; traditional Chinese: 張軍; pinyin: Zhāng Jūn; born October 1974) is a Chinese Kunqu opera performer. In May 2011, Zhang was awarded the UNESCO Artist for Peace award for his "long-term commitment to promoting intangible cultural heritage, especially Kunqu Opera." He became the only second Chinese after actress Gong Li to be awarded the title since 2001.[1][2]

Officially ranked as one of China's national top-class performers, Zhang is known as the prince of Kunqu Opera, often playing the role of xiao sheng (young man) and portraying many leading characters in famous Kunqu plays such as The Peony Pavilion, The Palace of Eternal Youth and The Jade Hairpin

The first Kunqu opera singer in China to focus on revitalizing and promoting the ancient art form to a younger generation which he first started in universities and schools in 1998, Zhang's dream is to bring "Kunqu to an international stage" for people everywhere in the world to appreciate this ancient Chinese art.

Currently in London and New York on a one-man contemporary performance of I, Hamlet, which is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, he plays four key roles telling the classic tale through a Kunqu monologue.[3][4]

Personal life

Born to farmers, Zhang grew up in Shanghai's Qingpu District. At 12, he was the only boy selected from 2,000 candidates by the Shanghai Traditional Opera School to learn the traditional opera Kunqu which he trained intensively for eight years.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ "Honorary and Goodwill Ambassadors: Zhang Jun". UNESCO. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  2. ↑ Feng, Yi (29 August 2011). "The man bringing Kunqu opera to the world". CNN. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  3. ↑ Hong, Xiao (13 January 2017). "Hamlet, as told by Kunqu Opera star". China Daily. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  4. ↑ "I, Hamlet with Chinese opera star Zhang Jun". Asia Society. January 2017. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  5. ↑ Tan, Wing (27 August 2013). "Born in the 1970s - Zhang Jun, 39". Shanghai Daily. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  6. ↑ "Chinese kunqu opera star Zhang Jun talks about his life's passion". SCMP. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-06.



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