'Pingtan' master to lead ballad show with new narratives

Enjoying a traditional pingtan performance, sung in the Suzhou dialect, at teahouses and restaurants is an audio treat in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, where the art form originated and later spread to neighboring areas.

Stories are sung in ballads, with a soft voice and rich emotions, to the accompaniment of traditional musical instruments. The performances accentuate the feelings of grace and peace one has in Suzhou, a historic city of cultural accumulations.

Sheng Xiaoyun, a pingtan artist of repute who has been honored at provincial and national levels, will bring the art to the Beijing stage, sharing with the audience the artistry of this time-honored form of singing and storytelling.

She will give performances on March 1 and 2 at the National Center for the Performing Arts. Also sharing the limelight will be younger-generation artists including several whom Sheng mentors. They will present adapted pieces from old classics.

The performances are Jiangsu's efforts to bring its artistic traditions to the capital stage.