The curtain was raised and lights dimmed. Dressed in a glamorous costume, the lead actress of Peking Opera masterpiece The Drunken Beauty and a male opera singer in a suit took centerstage at the newly renovated Guanghe Theater in Beijing’s Qianmen historical area, on the evening of Nov 1.

When the unlikely duo belted out lyrics of the Italian opera Time to Say Goodbye, one in Chinese and the other in Italian, the audience in the packed theater was entranced.

The performance When East Meets West signaled the reopening of the old theater where Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang(1894-1961) launched his illustrious career at age 10 some 100 years ago.

It also lifted the curtain of the 6th Qianmen Historical and Cultural Festival, an event to celebrate the revival of the 600-year-old commercial and cultural hub in the Chinese capital city.

Running through Nov 18, the festival promises a medley of activities, showcasing afine fusion of tradition and modernity.