Renowned Masters of Peking Opera Tour Multiple Cities in Canada
Welcoming Spring with the Golden Horse, A Grand Feast of China’s National Art Tresure.
Peking Opera masters Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu lead the audience in celebrating the 2026 Happy Chinese New Year.
The most magnificent and solemn traditional Chinese festival--Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)—is arriving as promised.
At this special moment imbued with emotion, culture, history, and ritual, the 2026 “Happy Chinese New Year” Overseas Peking Opera Gala will present a pinnacle celebration of this century-old national art, creating precious moments of reunion and shared joy.
From February 6 to 13, a 30-member ensemble of distinguished Peking Opera artists from the National Peking Opera Company of China, led by renowned performers Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu, will embark on a week-long grand tour across Canada. Under the theme “Welcoming Spring with the Golden Horse,” the tour will also include Peking Opera lectures and multiple cultural exchange activities.
Led by Wang Haoqiang, Deputy Head of the First Troupe of the National Peking Opera Company, and featuring Yu Kuizhi, Li Shengsu, and many outstanding artists, this powerful lineup will present three consecutive performances in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto.
Classic Repertoire: Civil and Martial Excellence Combined
The tour features highlights from traditional classical Peking Opera repertoires, all performed with a full orchestra and in complete costumed singing performances. Each selected scene stands as an independent work while also reflecting the full narrative of the original opera. Many are beloved and widely recognized excerpts, including:
These excerpts vividly showcase the essence of Peking Opera, encompassing all major role types--sheng, dan, jing, and chou—and the fundamental skills of singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics. As the soul of full-length operas, these classic scenes allow audiences to fully experience the depth and beauty of China’s traditional cultural heritage.
The most magnificent and solemn traditional Chinese festival--Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)—is arriving as promised.
At this special moment imbued with emotion, culture, history, and ritual, the 2026 “Happy Chinese New Year” Overseas Peking Opera Gala will present a pinnacle celebration of this century-old national art, creating precious moments of reunion and shared joy.
From February 6 to 13, a 30-member ensemble of distinguished Peking Opera artists from the National Peking Opera Company of China, led by renowned performers Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu, will embark on a week-long grand tour across Canada. Under the theme “Welcoming Spring with the Golden Horse,” the tour will also include Peking Opera lectures and multiple cultural exchange activities.
Led by Wang Haoqiang, Deputy Head of the First Troupe of the National Peking Opera Company, and featuring Yu Kuizhi, Li Shengsu, and many outstanding artists, this powerful lineup will present three consecutive performances in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto.
Classic Repertoire: Civil and Martial Excellence Combined
The tour features highlights from traditional classical Peking Opera repertoires, all performed with a full orchestra and in complete costumed singing performances. Each selected scene stands as an independent work while also reflecting the full narrative of the original opera. Many are beloved and widely recognized excerpts, including:
- The Palace of Eternal Youth (Changsheng Dian)
- Wujiapo
- The Yang Family Female Generals
- Farewell My Concubine
- Sancha Kou
- Havoc in Heaven
These excerpts vividly showcase the essence of Peking Opera, encompassing all major role types--sheng, dan, jing, and chou—and the fundamental skills of singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics. As the soul of full-length operas, these classic scenes allow audiences to fully experience the depth and beauty of China’s traditional cultural heritage.
A Golden Partnership: Yu Kuizhi & Li Shengsu
As two of today’s most influential stars in the Peking Opera world, Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu are widely acclaimed for their exceptional artistry and vocal excellence, and for their significant contributions to promoting Chinese opera culture.
Their leading performances of The Palace of Eternal Youth and Wujiapo represent signature works carefully refined by masters of the art, imbued with distinctive personal styles and serving as exemplary representations of Peking Opera schools.
Having collaborated for many years, Yu and Li have created a celebrated “legend of the pear garden” through their seamless onstage chemistry. Their numerous international performances have earned widespread praise from overseas media and audiences alike, and they are hailed as a “gold standard of cultural exchange.”
On this Canadian tour, these two leading figures of contemporary Peking Opera will offer local audiences a powerful experience of the art form’s emotional resonance and profound cultural value.
As two of today’s most influential stars in the Peking Opera world, Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu are widely acclaimed for their exceptional artistry and vocal excellence, and for their significant contributions to promoting Chinese opera culture.
Their leading performances of The Palace of Eternal Youth and Wujiapo represent signature works carefully refined by masters of the art, imbued with distinctive personal styles and serving as exemplary representations of Peking Opera schools.
Having collaborated for many years, Yu and Li have created a celebrated “legend of the pear garden” through their seamless onstage chemistry. Their numerous international performances have earned widespread praise from overseas media and audiences alike, and they are hailed as a “gold standard of cultural exchange.”
On this Canadian tour, these two leading figures of contemporary Peking Opera will offer local audiences a powerful experience of the art form’s emotional resonance and profound cultural value.
Honouring Tradition While Innovating: Leading Artists Take the Stage
The National Peking Opera Company of China, directly under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is the country’s highest national institution for Peking Opera. Many of the outstanding performers accompanying the tour are pillars of China’s opera community and will take the stage to present classic interpretations that demonstrate the elegance and enduring charm of the pear garden tradition.
Among the highlights is the martial Peking Opera classic Havoc in Heaven, featuring the iconic Monkey King, Sun Wukong. In this tour, the role is led by Wang Haoqiang, a National First-Class Actor. His performance integrates tumbling, combat, acrobatics, stylized movement, and dance—lively, humorous, and exhilarating.
The program also includes Pear Blossom Song (Lihua Song), the theme song from the newly adapted historical Peking Opera The Imperial Consort of the Tang Dynasty. First performed by the late Master Mei Baojiu, this renowned Peking Opera song is based on the Erhuang melody system, enriched with distinctive Mei School vocal techniques. Blending subtle elegance with grandeur, it exemplifies innovation within tradition and plays a vital role in the inheritance and promotion of Peking Opera.
Let tradition take root, let culture shine, and let the timeless classics of China’s national art blossom on Canadian stages—where passion and dedication find their echo.
The National Peking Opera Company of China, directly under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is the country’s highest national institution for Peking Opera. Many of the outstanding performers accompanying the tour are pillars of China’s opera community and will take the stage to present classic interpretations that demonstrate the elegance and enduring charm of the pear garden tradition.
Among the highlights is the martial Peking Opera classic Havoc in Heaven, featuring the iconic Monkey King, Sun Wukong. In this tour, the role is led by Wang Haoqiang, a National First-Class Actor. His performance integrates tumbling, combat, acrobatics, stylized movement, and dance—lively, humorous, and exhilarating.
The program also includes Pear Blossom Song (Lihua Song), the theme song from the newly adapted historical Peking Opera The Imperial Consort of the Tang Dynasty. First performed by the late Master Mei Baojiu, this renowned Peking Opera song is based on the Erhuang melody system, enriched with distinctive Mei School vocal techniques. Blending subtle elegance with grandeur, it exemplifies innovation within tradition and plays a vital role in the inheritance and promotion of Peking Opera.
Let tradition take root, let culture shine, and let the timeless classics of China’s national art blossom on Canadian stages—where passion and dedication find their echo.
Featured Artists
Yu Kuizhi
A leading Peking Opera performing artist of China, National First-Class Actor specializing in laosheng roles.
Vice Chairman of the China Theatre Association; Artistic Director of the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. Recipient of the State Council’s Special Government Allowance.
Hailed as “China’s foremost laosheng,” Yu Kuizhi is known for a performance style that is rigorous, refined, and naturally expressive. His representative works include The Yang Family Generals, Silang Visits His Mother, Red Cliff, and Man Jiang Hong.
The late Peking Opera master Yuan Shihai once remarked: “Yu Kuizhi is Yu Kuizhi—he can never be replaced.”
A leading Peking Opera performing artist of China, National First-Class Actor specializing in laosheng roles.
Vice Chairman of the China Theatre Association; Artistic Director of the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. Recipient of the State Council’s Special Government Allowance.
Hailed as “China’s foremost laosheng,” Yu Kuizhi is known for a performance style that is rigorous, refined, and naturally expressive. His representative works include The Yang Family Generals, Silang Visits His Mother, Red Cliff, and Man Jiang Hong.
The late Peking Opera master Yuan Shihai once remarked: “Yu Kuizhi is Yu Kuizhi—he can never be replaced.”
Li Shengsu
A leading Peking Opera performing artist of China, National First-Class Actor specializing in qingyi roles.
Head of the First Troupe of the National Peking Opera Company; Visiting Professor at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts; Mentor of the Graduate Program for Outstanding Young Peking Opera Performers. Recipient of the State Council’s Special Government Allowance.
A direct disciple of the late Master Mei Baojiu, Li Shengsu is celebrated for her restrained, elegant, and graceful performance style. Her representative works include Lian Jinfeng, The Drunken Concubine, and Return of the Phoenix. She is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished contemporary representatives of the Mei School.
A leading Peking Opera performing artist of China, National First-Class Actor specializing in qingyi roles.
Head of the First Troupe of the National Peking Opera Company; Visiting Professor at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts; Mentor of the Graduate Program for Outstanding Young Peking Opera Performers. Recipient of the State Council’s Special Government Allowance.
A direct disciple of the late Master Mei Baojiu, Li Shengsu is celebrated for her restrained, elegant, and graceful performance style. Her representative works include Lian Jinfeng, The Drunken Concubine, and Return of the Phoenix. She is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished contemporary representatives of the Mei School.
Wang Haoqiang
National First-Class Actor of the National Peking Opera Company; Deputy Head of the First Troupe; specialist in wusheng roles.
A graduate of the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and a member of the first Peking Opera School Transmission Program.
Highly skilled in armored roles, short combat scenes, and monkey plays, his frequently performed works include Havoc in Heaven, Sancha Kou, and Battle of Ma Chao. Winner of the Silver Award in the Wusheng category at the 7th CCTV National Young Peking Opera Competition, Wang Haoqiang has earned wide acclaim for his solid martial foundation.
National First-Class Actor of the National Peking Opera Company; Deputy Head of the First Troupe; specialist in wusheng roles.
A graduate of the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and a member of the first Peking Opera School Transmission Program.
Highly skilled in armored roles, short combat scenes, and monkey plays, his frequently performed works include Havoc in Heaven, Sancha Kou, and Battle of Ma Chao. Winner of the Silver Award in the Wusheng category at the 7th CCTV National Young Peking Opera Competition, Wang Haoqiang has earned wide acclaim for his solid martial foundation.
Organizers & Support
This tour is presented and organized by the Canada-China Cultural Development Association (CCCDA) and the Chinese Opera Arts Association of Canada, with strong support from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada, the Consulates General of China in Toronto and Montreal, and the China National Tourist Office in Toronto.
Bank of China
As one of China’s four major banks, Bank of China provides comprehensive financial services worldwide. Since entering Canada, it has actively supported local community development and Canada–China cultural exchange, sponsoring numerous arts and education initiatives. As a partner of the Happy Chinese New Year Peking Opera Gala, Bank of China aims to build bridges of friendship and promote mutual cultural understanding through the celebration of China’s national heritage.
Performance Information
Ottawa
📅 February 8, 2026
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe
Montreal
📅 February 11, 2026
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 L’Olympia Theatre
Toronto
📅 February 13, 2026
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre
This tour is presented and organized by the Canada-China Cultural Development Association (CCCDA) and the Chinese Opera Arts Association of Canada, with strong support from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada, the Consulates General of China in Toronto and Montreal, and the China National Tourist Office in Toronto.
Bank of China
As one of China’s four major banks, Bank of China provides comprehensive financial services worldwide. Since entering Canada, it has actively supported local community development and Canada–China cultural exchange, sponsoring numerous arts and education initiatives. As a partner of the Happy Chinese New Year Peking Opera Gala, Bank of China aims to build bridges of friendship and promote mutual cultural understanding through the celebration of China’s national heritage.
Performance Information
Ottawa
📅 February 8, 2026
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe
Montreal
📅 February 11, 2026
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 L’Olympia Theatre
Toronto
📅 February 13, 2026
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre