娱乐英语新闻:Virtual opera actress makes debut in east China

HANGZHOU, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- A virtual Yue opera actress made its debut Friday afternoon at the Xiaobaihua Yue Theater in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

The actress, which performed an excerpt of the classic Yue opera "The Butterfly Lovers," was a holographic character of Shangguan Wan'er, an avatar from "The Glory of the King" ("Arena of Valor"), a multiplayer online battle arena game launched by China's Internet giant Tencent.

As a product of cutting-edge technologies, the virtual performer is set for a bright future since "she" is not affected by age or changes to her figure, said Mao Weitao, a famous Yue opera artist and head of the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe.

"I have reason to say that 'she' is a perfect Yue opera actress who plays a young man's role," she said.

According to Mao, Tencent's R&D team had captured her every movement and facial expression, as well as her vocal performance to make the virtual character.

More than 40 Yue opera experts and artists have participated in the cooperation with Tencent for the product design.

Yue opera is a major form of Chinese opera founded around 1906.