NYC Celebrates the Year of the Horse with Peking Opera Star Li Jun

By J. Taylor Basker

New York City is home to over 700,000 Chinese Americans. There are parts of the city, such as Flushing, Queens and Canal Street in Manhattan, where you would think you were in China. Chinese culture, especially its food, has a large influence in the lives of New Yorkers! New York was the first state to declare the Lunar New Year as a holiday for public school children in 2023.

This New Year’s celebration in New York was historic. The internationally acclaimed Chinese Peking Opera performer Li Jun, one of the most respected artists of his generation, presented a rare Peking Opera performance on February 7, offering audiences an intimate experience of one of China’s most treasured classical art forms. He also conducted his first video interview in English with me with for ArtsPR International which will be distributed to the Chinese media.

Li Jun said his favorite role was that of the Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty in the opera The Royal Consort of Tang. The emperor must make the difficult decision to execute his favorite consort for political reasons. After she dances on a huge jade platform, he sorrowfully plays the drum while she is killed. Known for his powerful vocal technique, emotional depth, and masterful interpretation of traditional repertoire, Li Jun has captivated audiences across China and internationally. He is renowned for these laosheng (older male) roles.

He traveled from China to Flushing to perform in the celebration of the Year of the Horse in the enormous Promise Theater. This event featured many aspects of Chinese culture: instrumental music, dances with umbrellas and scarfs as well as ballet, both traditional and pop singing, stand-up-comics and hosts of popular Chinese talk shows. On the large stage, Elpis Productions created riveting videos and lighting on colossal multiple screens. Beautiful traditional Chinese iconography floated behind and above the performers such as clouds, flowers, temples and of course most prominently this year, horses.

Li Jun’s performance featured a solo segment of Peking Opera, with traditional musical accompaniment, that highlighted the raw beauty of the human voice and the expressive storytelling that defines this centuries-old theatrical tradition. Using face, voice and body Li Jun mesmerized the audience, revealing his training under many masters at the China National Academy of Traditional Opera.

This special appearance marked an important cultural moment, introducing American audiences to the purity and dramatic strength of classical Peking Opera performance — a format that emphasizes vocal mastery, breath control, and artistic precision.

“Peking Opera is a living art form that carries history, emotion, and spirit through voice alone,” said Li Jun. “This performance allows listeners to connect directly with its essence.”

Li Jun has received widespread recognition for his contributions to preserving and modernizing traditional Chinese opera while maintaining its authentic roots. His work has been featured at major cultural festivals, theaters, and academic institutions. NYC was privileged to have him perform here. His performance for the Year of the Horse resonated with the qualities of the year ─ energy and passion. Li Jun’s performance embodied these traits through his remarkable intensity and emotional depth.

This performance offered a unique opportunity for audiences, cultural leaders, and media to experience one of China’s most celebrated performers in a powerful presentation. One does not have to be Chinese to appreciate the great art form of Peking Opera. Li Jun’s theatrical skills reach into the universal emotions experienced by all of humanity. In the interview, he affirmed the importance of cultural exchange between nations. He emphasized the role of artists as unique ambassadors of harmony in this world of divisions and stress. We look forward to his return to New York City.