However, that has not prevented it from being dubbed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001. Indeed, in the past few years its flagging fortunes seem to have changed.

That revival can be attributed in no small part to the popularity of the youth version of The Peony Pavilion adapted by Bai Xianyong, one of the most famous modern Chinese writers, who was a devotee of Kunqu Opera from an early age.

"The opera is so beautiful, with performers' graceful hand movementsandelegant gestures enhanced by long silk sleeves and poetic recitation," Zhang said.

"The melodious singing is the most fascinating part."

In The Peony Pavilion Zhang played a netherworld goblin in a part titled "Hell". Performing the role helped her to think further about the storyline and the function of each part in the drama, she said.

"It was while I was learning all this that I made up my mind to make opera a field for further study."