A scene from the Wuju Opera Legend of the White Snake. [Photo/CCC Budapest]

"I felt as if West Lake had come to Vienna," said Rainer Repek, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna, after watching the Wuju Opera Legend of the White Snake.

The classic Chinese love story, performed to a full house on April 5 at the MuTh Theater in Vienna, marked the opening show of the 2025 Chinese Opera Season.

Presented by the Zhejiang Wuju Opera Art Research Institute, the performance blended martial artistry and poetic storytelling. Originating in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Wuju Opera is known for its expressive body movements and the unique "wenxi wu zuo" style – using martial techniques in civil plays.

The audience responded warmly to the dramatic moments, from the tender exchange between Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian to high-stakes action scenes. "It was fascinating. I've seen Chinese opera before in China, but never anything of this caliber in Vienna," said Ernst Woller, president of the Vienna State Parliament.

Local attendees were equally impressed. "It felt immersive, like we were part of the story," said audience member Ulrike Krauss.

The performance is part of a larger series hosted by the China Opera Research Society and the European Association for International Cultural Exchange, supported by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Over the course of the season, eight traditional Chinese opera styles – including Kunqu and Yueju operas – will be staged across Europe.

Zhejiang's Wuju troupe has toured 69 countries to date, with Vienna becoming the latest stop in its global cultural journey.

The Viennese audience is immersed in Chinese opera performances. [Photo/CCC Budapest]