Society

Maestro of China's Yueju opera dies at 89

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-20 19:25

SHANGHAI - China's maestro of Yueju opera genre of Chinese opera, Yuan Xuefen, dies Saturday at the age of 89, Yuan's family said Sunday.

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Yuan's ashes will be scattered over Shanghai's Huangpu River as is her will, Yuan's eldest son said.

Yuan is credited with leading the reform of Yueju opera by an extensive use of lighting and scenery and a soft style of costuming. She is most known for playing the title role of Sister Xianglin by Lu Xun, one of the major Chinese writers of the 20th century.

Yueju opera is a form of Chinese opera founded around 1906.