BEIJING, Nov. 24 -- A French painter shared the stage with Chinese opera performers on Sunday evening in Paris. The event was the finale at the fourth Chinese Traditional Opera Festival in the French capital, and offered a new take on the west-meets-east trend in art.

    A Hong Kong opera theatre group brought the Kunqu classic "Peony Pavilion" to Paris to close this year's Chinese Opera Festival there.

    While the costumed artists were reviving the centuries-old romantic story on the stage, a French painter worked behind them, improvising on a ten-meter-long canvas.

    Audiences seemed to be thrilled by this extraordinary combination of eastern opera and western painting.

    The French painter Gerald was more than pleased to be part of the new attempt in promoting cultural exchange. He has been best known in France for his improvisation accompanying a musical background.

    Gerald, French Painter, said, "We hadn't arranged any rehearsal. It was complete improvisation. I painted whatever popped into my mind when I was listening to the opera."

    The show was followed with an awards ceremony. Winners in seven categories received prizes, providing a perfect ending to their trip to France.