Historic art form: Eight Chinese operas on tour across Europe

For the first time, a series of eight Chinese opera productions are touring Europe. 

'The Legend of the White Snake', one of China's best-known folktales, marked the starting point at the Chinese ensemble base in Austria. 

The Wu opera - a 500-year-old genre - which premiered on April 5 at Vienna's MuTh concert hall, focuses on a female snake-spirit who falls madly in love with a human.

Venues in Austria, Germany, Italy and Hungary - the countries that gave the world Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi and Bartok - will be hosting a variety of opera styles including Wu Opera, Kunqu Opera and Yue Opera.

Ming Wenjun, president of the China Opera Research Society, officially launched the season, highlighting that the diversity of theatrical styles presented reflects a core value of Chinese culture - harmony in diversity.

Although largely unknown in Europe, Chinese traditional theatre is one of the world's oldest performing arts, tracing its origins back to the 16th century BC. Now, with the support of the Chinese government and the city of Vienna, Europeans can experience that history first hand.

"I suggested that we bring the whole thing to Vienna," president of Vienna's municipal council Ernst Woller told CGTN. "I am very happy that this series of eight Chinese opera performances in Europe is based in Vienna."

After Vienna, the Chinese opera tour will move onto Hungary, Italy and Germany and is planning to return with new performances next year.

"It is a very good opportunity to introduce Chinese culture in Europe," says Yao Yao, vice president at 'International Culture Co-operations. "This way we can bring the people together."

China and Austria have been cooperating in classical music for many years. Prestigious orchestras from both countries regularly perform in each other's capitals and, at the end of last year, Vienna's 'House of Music' museum opened an affiliate in the Chinese city of Yanguan, aiming at uniting Austrian and Chinese heritage. 

It's an interactive exhibition combining Vienna's classical music tradition with modern technology.

"Music can be the perfect bridge between cultures," House of Music director Simon Posch told CGTN. "This is what we're aiming for and it worked out for China and we're hoping to open a second and even a third House of Music somewhere in China over the next few years."