The Peony Pavilion is a Ming Dynasty masterpiece of Chinese opera by the great Chinese writer Tang Xianzu (1550-1616). Far beyond the erotic story of a teenage ghost and her dream lover, the play is an epic spectacle that rolls out like a giant Chinese scroll painting, encapsulating all corners of Ming society through its cast of more than one hundred characters, among them Jin invaders, bandits, Taoist nuns, scholars and prostitutes.

Over the next few months, we will continue to provide updated information about different aspects of the Lincoln Center Festival 99 production of The Peony Pavilion, on this website, such as set design, costume design, production notes and more.

Who gives meaning to a work of art? The complete production of The Peony Pavilion is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Besides its place in operatic history, this production is notable for the controversy that surrounded its presentation last year. Why should a 16th century opera have created such a stir? Possibly because the issues at stake are not limited to China, but resonate throughout the international community.

http://www.lincolncenter.org/toc.htm (2003)