For Peking opera master Shi Yihong, Chinese New Year is no time to rest. “It’s the busiest period for us opera performers,” the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company stalwart tells Apple Music. “Everyone is off work and has time to watch shows.” On this seasonal playlist, Shi has selected a wide range of operatic, traditional and popular music from Western and Chinese artists. As befits a dan performer—the female lead role traditionally portrayed by men—she highlights the work of Mei Lanfang, one of the greatest dans in history, singling out his interpretation of tragedies like Farewell My Concubine for special praise. “His placid demeanour and elegant temperament lessen the mournfulness but generate more pity and compassion in the audience,” she says. “It’s an artistic trademark he never overdoes.” Peking opera evolved over the years and today’s practitioners are taking the art form to new places, as Shi did in 2022 on two collaborative albums with avant-garde rock artist Dou Wei. “Traditional opera has always kept pace with the times and has been transformed by different aesthetics, rhythms and musical ideas—sometimes tacitly and sometimes deliberately,” she says. Her list includes tracks like the aria “O Mio Babbino Caro” from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi that illustrate how music transcends language and other cultural barriers. For Shi, “It’s all music. Music is infectious and it purifies the heart and touches us directly. So whether you are happy or sad, with music you will feel whole.” In that spirit, she sends us an uplifting message for the future: “In 2023, I wish everyone good health, satisfaction and good fortune!”