The Butterfly Lovers, a classic Chinese folk tale, often called the “Chinese Romeo and Juliet,” is about the tragic romance between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, who fall in love while studying together. The couple is kept apart by social class and arranged marriage and ultimately transforms into butterflies after their deaths. NAPPA premiered a segment of this opera at 2026 Lunar New Year Festival Gala held at Boston City Hall.
NAPAA was invited to perform Yue Opera， “Phoenix Hairpin” at Wayland Chinese American Association’s biggest annual event — a joyful tradition that brings together families, friends, and neighbors from Wayland’s multicultural community. This event truly demonstrated art has no nationality and culture knows no borders.
On February 1st, 2026, NAPAA was invited to perform in the 7th Cambridge Chinese New Year Gala. In our first collaboration with the Boston Chinese Musicians Association and Yueqin player Zhou Jing, we presented the profound emotions and beautiful melody of the classic Peking Opera "A Dream in the Boudoir – Poor guy carrying a crossbow and charging into battle.”
NAPAA performed “Recollection of the Eighteen-Mile Farewell from The Butterfly Lovers to celebrate 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival.
The classic Yue Opera excerpt "The Peacock Flies Southeast" premiered at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in the 2024 Lunar New Year.
Innovative Musical Theatre at Peter Jay Sharp Symphony Space：
The Butterfly Lovers
When tradition meets technology, when history meets the future, when yesterdy
meets tomorrow….this is a moment we witness together….
Cai Xinfen performed in the 2019 Lunar New Year Gala in Lexington, presenting a selection from "The Butterfly Lovers," specifically the "Return to the Eighteen Miles." She brought the beauty of the stage to the audience, giving them the opportunity to appreciate the charm of Jiangnan Yue Opera up close.
A Memorial Performance for Yue Opera master Fan Ruijuan; the spirit of the butterfly dream lives on forever…..
“The Soul of Plum Blossoms - Farewell at the Double Terrace
- By Cai Xinfen and Yu Jinglan
