On the evenings of October 14 and 15, as a highlight of the "Elegant Arts on Campus" initiative,The August 1st Uprising, an original Chinese national opera jointly created by Nanchang Normal University and the Jiangxi Song and Dance Theatre, was staged twice at the university, offering faculty and students a red artistic feast that combines historical depth with artistic power.
Held to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March, the performance used opera as a vehicle to present faculty and students with a course integrating aesthetic education with ideological and political education that combines depth of thought with artistic appeal.
Scene of the Performance. Photo by the University Youth League Committee
Before the first performance, Li Hongyan, Member of the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee and Vice President, delivered remarks. She noted that at this important historical juncture — the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory and the fast-approaching centenary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army — the staging ofThe August 1st Uprisingat the university was not merely an artistic feast but a vivid, living lesson in ideological and political education. Recreating the extraordinary story of the birth of the people's army, the opera dovetails with the university's core mission of fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. She encouraged all faculty and students to draw strength for progress from red history and cultivate a deeper love for the Party and the country.
With renowned director Huang Dingshan serving as chief director,The August 1st Uprisingbrings together a top-tier creative team and an elite cast from across the country. Set against the backdrop of the 1927 Nanchang Uprising, the opera vividly recounts the epic story of the Communist Party of China independently leading armed struggle and firing the first shot in armed resistance against the reactionary Kuomintang. Blending grand historical narrative with nuanced character portrayal, it stands as a red classic masterpiece with profound thought, superb artistry and polished production.
The auditorium was packed on the night of the performance. As the grand, resonant symphonic overture began, the scene evoked the tense eve of the uprising, with revolutionaries moving and crying out in the darkness. Then cannon fire erupted; gunshots and shouts intertwined, driving the mighty momentum of the uprising to its climax. With full-bodied singing and expressive stage performance, the performers brought to life a vivid ensemble of revolutionary heroes who pursued their ideals without hesitation and ordinary people who supported the revolution. Stirring and solemn ensemble numbers alternated with tender, heartfelt solos. The plot shifted between somber gravity and soaring intensity. The faculty and students in the audience were wholly absorbed. As each act drew to a close, prolonged applause erupted — culminating in a red spiritual dialogue that transcends time and space.
The Auditorium Is Filled to Capacity. Photo by the University Youth League Committee
After the performance, Pu Zitong, an undergraduate in the Class of 2022 in the School of Literature, Journalism and Communication and a member of the 29th Postgraduate Volunteer Teaching Corps, shared her thoughts: "When the gunshots rang out and the revolutionary forebears made their choices on stage, that distant history seemed to unfold right before my eyes, and the power of faith became so real.Going forward, I will carry this awe and inspiration with me and write the story of my youth where the motherland needs me." Lang Jianfei, a teacher at the University Public Art Guidance Center, commented: "As an art educator in higher education, I deeply feel that great stage art not only brings aesthetic enjoyment but also touches the heart and enlightens the mind through its artistic power.When works like this come to campus, they reach young people and nurture them with red culture in a more vivid way, better guiding students to feel the power of faith in history."
Editor-in-charge: Liu Qiong Reviewed by: Lei Changsheng Uploaded by: Liu Hong Release Date: October 16, 2026
