The traditional opera Legend of the White Snake was jointly staged by the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong (CAAHK, also known as Barwo) and the Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe at the Guangdong Arts Theater in Guangzhou's Tianhe district on Nov 2 and 3.

More than 120 actors and actresses from the two troupes gave thrilling performances that combined Cantonese Opera and Kun Opera.

The Legend of the White Snake is one of the most famous Chinese folk tales. The legend goes that a white snake spirit named Bai Suzhen, longing to become human, came to the human world and married a scholar named Xu Xian. However, the marriage was opposed by Fahai, a Buddhist monk, who then suppressed the white snake under Leifeng Pagoda at the bank of the West Lake. Many years later, her son, who gained a Zhuangyuan title (the first place in the imperial examination), offered a sacrifice to his mother in front of the Leifeng Pagoda. God was moved by his action and so made the pagoda collapse, which enabled the family to reunite.

Cantonese Opera adds luster to Duan Qiao (The Broken Bridge) section of the Legend of the White Snake opera. The broken bridge by West Lake is said to be the place where Bai Suzhen met Xu Xian. [Photo/IC]

The You Hu (Touring West Lake) section is performed using Kun Opera. [Photo/IC]

CAAHK was re-registered as a professional organization for Cantonese Opera performers in Hong Kong in 1953 based on the Hong Kong branch of the Guangdong Professional Union for Cantonese Opera Performers, while the Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe was established in 1978 to preserve the art of Kun Opera.