On the evening of May 9th, the Cantonese version of the musical "I Am What I Am" premiered at the Guangzhou Opera House, marking the opening of the 2024 Guangzhou Art Season. This season will run until September 1st, featuring a diverse array of performances including operas, musicals, dramas, dance dramas, concerts, acrobatics, and traditional Chinese operas, totaling 140 shows across 60 outstanding productions.

The play "War and Peace"

The opening performance featured the debut of the Cantonese version of the musical "I Am What I Am" in the Chinese mainland while the closing act will be the Russian Vakhtangov Theatre's play "War and Peace," directed by the renowned director Rimas Tuminas, which will be staged for four consecutive nights in Guangzhou.

Kunqu Opera "1699: The Peach Blossom Fan"

The Art Season carefully selected a series of representative Chinese art pieces, such as Kunqu Opera "1699: The Peach Blossom Fan," original ethnic dance drama "Cavalry," and the dance drama "Mulan," all of which innovatively inherit the spirit of traditional Chinese aesthetics with outstanding artistic quality.

The musical "School of Rock"

This season also features outstanding artists and groups from 15 countries including Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, South Africa, Australia, Hungary, Sweden, and Russia, allowing the citizens of Guangzhou to easily appreciate artistic treasures from around the world and deeply experience the unique charm of multiculturalism without travelling afar.

The new Chinese version of the play "Les Misérables"

Outstanding literary and artistic works from HK SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan Province will make their appearance at this Arts Season. "Principle," a thought-provoking production authorized by the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre and produced by the Nine People Repertory Group, will meet Chinese mainland audiences for the first time in Mandarin this year.

In addition to exciting performances, this Art Season will also involve a series of online and offline lectures, workshops, and sharing sessions to meet the cultural needs of the citizens.