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Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the third performance of the "Heroic Heroines of Peking Opera", "Mu Guiying Defeats the Enemy's Tianman Battle Array" will be staged on January 25, 2003 (Saturday) at 7.30 pm at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. This traditional piece consists of four episodes. They include "The Muke Stronghold", "The Lord of Muke", "Executing His Son" and "Cracking the Battlement". Playing the roles of Mu Guiying correspondingly, the three National Class One Performers Li Jingwen of Peking Opera Theatre of Shenyang, Shi Yihong (Shi Min) of Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre and Hou Danmei of Peking Opera Troupe of Guiyang City will showcase the character with their unique approach and style.
The story happened in the Song period where the Song Empire is at war with the Liaos. Marshall Yang seeks help from his brother, who detects there is an evil in the battlement. They need a "Dragon Vanquishing Wood" from Lord Muke so as to break the illusive magic. Two brave officers are sent to borrow this "Dragon Vanquishing Wood". Defeated by Lord Muke's daughter Mu Guiying, the two officers ask Yang Zongbao, the son of the Marshall, to fight her again. Zongbao is also defeated and falls while the two have to escape from a fire.
Zongbao agrees to marry Guiying in order to get the "Dragon Vanquishing Wood" and crack the battlement together. But when his father, Marshall Yang, hears of this, he takes his army and attacks the Muke Stronghold but fails. He chastises his son for offering marriage to the enemy and deserves to be decapitated. When Guiying arrives with an offer of army provisions, military support, horses and the "Dragon Vanquishing Wood", the Marshall finally agrees to their marriage. Guiying is appointed as the vanguard squad. The Song army finally enjoys a victory.
Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre was founded in 1955, with Maestro Zhou Xinfang as its founding Director. For more than four decades, the company is under the influence of the unique humanistic atmosphere of its home base and has developed its own artistic style. It is supported by a talented cast and staff and has built up a stock repertory of great number and variety. The company is not only highly esteemed in China but also enjoys fame overseas.
Peking Opera Theatre of Shenyang was formerly the Liaoning Peking Opera Troupe. Its artistic excellence as an exponent of the Tang School of the art under Maestro Tang Yunsheng, has distinguished it among other companies in the genre. It shares fame with the Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre and the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing as exponents of the artistic styles of three maestros, "Qi (Lin Tong) of the South, Ma (Lianliang) of the North and Tang (Yunsheng) beyond the Great Wall". In the 1950s, the company had already won critical acclaim all over the world.
Peking Opera Troupe of Guiyang City was formed by a merger between the Peking Opera Troupe of the Militia of Guizhou Province and the Qianguang Peking Opera Society of Guiyang City. The Troupe has won awards for its productions, including "The Storms on Miao Mountains", which was performed in Beijing in 1964 and 1975. The newly arranged historical piece, "Fan Zhongyan", won the coveted National Five One Projects Award.
Li Jingwen is a National Class One Performer and a famous performer of Peking Opera Theatre of Shenyang. Li was the winner of the Plum Blossom Award, and an outstanding exponent and disciple of the famous Peking Opera artist, Guan Sushuang. A disciple of Liu Xiurong in 1993, Li is known for her solid groundwork in military skills, assured moves and powerful fighting actions. Her repertory consists of both military and civil roles. Her performance in Singapore won her the praise of "The Queen of 'Wudan' in China".
Shi Yihong (Shi Min) is a National Class One Performer. Shi was a famous young performer of Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre and the winner of the Plum Blossom Award. She is known for her handsome, refreshing stage personae, quick and assured moves, a broad-range in voice. In addition to being a remarkable performer capable of both military and civil roles, Shi was named one of the "Ten Best" among the outstanding young performers in Shanghai in 1993 and the winner of the White Magnolia Award at the 5th Shanghai Theatre Festival in 1994.
Hou Danmei is a National Class One Performer and Director of the Peking Opera Troupe of Guiyang City. She has a handsome persona, a broad-rang voice and is recognized as one of the rare talents in performing both military and civil female roles. She is a prized pupil of the famous Peking Opera artist, Guan Sushuang and a winner of the Plum Blossom Award.
The role of Yang Zongbao is played by Jin Xiquan who is an outstanding young performer at the Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre. He received further training at the Chinese Operatic School in 1998, where the virtuosi, Ru Shaoquan, Xiao Runde and Zhang Chunxiao, coached him personally. Noted for his handsome persona, Jin is a versatile actor with a repertoire of both civil and military roles. He has won the Best Performance Award at the National Television Competition for Young Peking Opera Performers.
Tickets priced at $320, $240, $180 and $100 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-priced concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. (Limited tickets for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis). There will be a 10% discount for every purchase of 4-9 tickets, 15% for 10-19 tickets and 20% for 20 tickets or more. A 10% discount is also available for Friends of LCSD performing venues.
Programme enquiries can be made on 2268 7323 while ticketing enquiries and reservations on 2734 9009. For credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999. Please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.
End/Monday, December 9, 2002
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