Recognized by UNESCO in 2001 as one of the first Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Kunqu is celebrated for its refined vocal style, graceful choreography, poetic language and minimalist stagecraft.

by Yang Shilong, Ada Zhang

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- A pop-up performance of Kunqu, China's oldest surviving form of opera, brought an unexpected touch of traditional Chinese culture to the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday.

The event featured artists from the Zhejiang Jingkun Art Center, drawing curious staff members and visitors who paused to watch the centuries-old art form in a public area of the UN complex. Many filmed the performance on their phones while others lingered to learn more about the stories behind the scenes.

Adina Ghita, a judge at the United Nations Dispute Tribunal who recently began studying Chinese, said the performance left a strong impression despite her limited understanding of the dialogue.

"It's the second time I've seen one. It's wonderful. It's special. They are so graceful when they dance," she said. "I understand it's about a princess and a lady who embroiders, and I love the way they dance. I think it's very expressive."

The visual storytelling made the performance accessible and enjoyable, Ghita said, expressing the hope to see more traditional Chinese performing arts at the United Nations.

"I see a lot of Chinese movies, and there are those dances with long sleeves, like fire or like water. I'd like to see that," she said.

For Toni Thai Sterrett, founder of AI-powered screenwriting platform Cinepartna, the performance demonstrated how traditional cultures from different parts of the world can resonate with one another.

"I thought it was beautiful. It was different. I don't understand the language, but I understood what was going on," she said. "I felt the emotion."

Sterrett, who was visiting the UN headquarters, said she found it meaningful to see women performing Kunqu, which she learned was traditionally performed entirely by men, and praised the comic role in the production. "The jester was really funny."

What impressed Sterrett most, however, was the cultural familiarity she found in an art form from another part of the world.

"It made me think about how similar all these traditional cultures are," she said. "Older cultures throughout Asia, Africa and indigenous communities have so much in common. The gestures and the way they were communicating made me think, 'Wow, we really are all the same.'"

The performance also carried broader significance at an international venue like the United Nations, Sterrett said.

Co-hosted by the UNSRC Chinese Book Club and the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, the performance featured excerpts from three classic Kunqu productions -- Age of Splendor (Shengshi Hongzhuang), The Tale of the Precious Sword (Baojian Ji) and Fifteen Strings of Cash (Shiwu Guan) -- presenting stories that range from the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and ideals of loyalty and righteousness to humorous portraits of everyday life.

Recognized by UNESCO in 2001 as one of the first Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Kunqu is celebrated for its refined vocal style, graceful choreography, poetic language and minimalist stagecraft, where symbolic gestures and movements convey rich emotions and dramatic narratives.