Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing to raise curtain on Chinese Opera Festival 2023 in June by showcasing qingyi beauty of Zhang School (with photos)
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The first performance is a classic Peking opera play, "Top Scholar as Matchmaker". Celebrated as one of Zhang's iconic works, which he once performed in Hong Kong in 1963, the play's lively and amusing plot is imbued with humour. Wang Rongrong has performed this work almost 2 000 times, and the performance was even turned into a film version. The second performance will start with classic martial art work "Battling Ma Chao", followed by "Poetry Contest", another representative work of Zhang, which has many amusing twists and turns, and with an elegant and enchanting Peking opera vocal style. The final performance will begin with "Offering a Humble Apology from The General Reconciles with the Prime Minister", a classic Peking opera pas de deux featuring two established role-types: laosheng (old male) and hualain (painted face). The finale, "Jinshan Temple, The Broken Bridge, Leifeng Pagoda", a core piece of repertory in Peking opera, was performed by Zhang early in his career. Wang Rongrong is also praised for her mastery performing such scenes, showcasing Zhang's celebrated and distinctive vocal delivery.
Details of the three performances are as follows:
Date and time: June 16 (Friday), 7.30pm
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"Top Scholar as Matchmaker"
Main cast: Wang Rongrong, Qiu Shi, Liu Mingzhe, Yu Xinze, Zhou Enxu, Han Juming and Fang Xu
Synopsis: On a hunting trip in the border area, Song Emperor and Princess are ambushed by an enemy general from the Kingdom of Liao. Yang Yanzhao frees the captives. Mistaken that they have been saved by Fu Dingkui, the Song Emperor promises the Princess to him as the bride. However, the Princess has fallen in love with Yang. Misunderstandings are rectified thanks to the Eighth Prince and the newly appointed Top Scholar, Lui Mengzheng. In the end, Yang marries the Princess.
Date and time: June 17 (Saturday), 7.30pm
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"Battling Ma Chao"
Main cast: Wei Xuelei and Yu Shuai
Synopsis: During the Three Kingdoms period, the defeated Ma Chao takes refuge with Zhang Lu, who sends him to attack Jiameng Pass to restrain Liu Bei. Zhuge Liang goads Zhang Fei into defending the Pass. Ma and Zhang, evenly matched, battle from day to night without a clear winner. Impressed by Ma's valour, Liu Bei enters the fray. Ma is deeply moved and decides to join Liu Bei's forces.
"Poetry Contest"
Main cast: Wang Rongrong, Liu Mingzhe, Sun Zhen, Yu Xinze, Bao Yan, Wang Chao and Lu Jie
Synopsis: Shen Zhong hosts a poetry contest to find a worthy husband for her daughter. Gu Ziyu, Che Buqing and Niu Siwen join the contest. While Gu is outstanding, the other two prospects come with help - Che enlists his sister Jingfang, and Niu asks Xie Ying, a scholar from his household, to compose on his behalf. Shen cannot choose among the candidates, so he sets a new contest: whoever wins the title of the Top Scholar can wed his daughter. Niu also asks Che to make a match with Jingfang. Jingfang wants to test his poetic prowess, so Niu brings along Xie. Xie is impressed by Jingfang's intellect and beauty, and he cannot bring himself to deceive her, so he just composes bad poetry. On the day the Top Scholar is announced, Che and Niu pretend to have won the title and make their way to the Shen mansion. But Gu, the real Top Scholar, and Xie uncover the hoax. Not only does Shen accept Gu as a son-in-law, but Shen also proposes a marriage between Xie and Jingfang. Jingfang has lingering doubts about Xie, who reveals his true poetic talent, and the two are betrothed.
Date and time: June 18 (Sunday), 7.30pm
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"Offering a Humble Apology from The General Reconciles with the Prime Minister"
Main cast: Fang Xu and Qiu Shi
Synopsis: After scoring a string of successes, Lin Xiangru is promoted to prime minister by the King of Zhao. General Lian Po is jealous and tries to insult Lin, but Lin consistently deflects the conflicts. Li Xian appeals to Lian, who later realises that Lin deliberately sidesteps such confrontations to preserve their relationship and guard against the threat of the State of Qin. Moved by Lin's high morals, Lian bears a cane on his back and visits Lin's residence to make amends. The two then become great allies.
"Jinshan Temple, The Broken Bridge, Leifeng Pagoda"
Main cast: Wang Rongrong (latter part)/Lu Jie (former part), Liu Mingzhe, Wang Chunyan, Sun Zhen, Yu Xinze, Wang Chao, Bao Yan, Wei Xuelei and Han Juming
Synopsis: After Bai Suzhen steals the magic herb to revivify her husband, Xu Xian, Xu goes to the Jinshan Temple to pay tribute to the deities. When he does not return after a few days, Bai and Xiao Qing travel to the temple and ask Abbott Fahai for her husband. Fahai refuses her request. Bai summons sea goblins to flood the temple, and Fahai calls the celestial army in defence. Pregnant and thus feeble, Bai retreats to the Broken Bridge, Xu rushes over by her side. Xiao Qing is angry that Xu has forsaken his love and wants to kill him, but Bai intercedes. The three make peace. Later, Bai gives birth to her son Shilin. When the baby is barely a month old, Fahai traps Bai in a golden bowl and holds her captive under Leifeng Pagoda. Shilin grows up and becomes the Top Scholar. He arrives at the pagoda to perform filial rites for his mother. Bai appears before her son and retells the sad story of her life in tears. Finally, mother and son painfully take leave of each other.
The Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing was founded in 1979 and was the home of the legendary "four great performers in dan roles" - Mei Lanfang, Shang Xiaoyun, Cheng Yanqiu and Xun Huisheng - and other masters such as Ma Lianlang, Tan Fuying, Zhang Junqiu, Qiu Shengrong and Zhao Yanxia. In addition, many distinguished artists of the Theatre have shaped the history and development of the art form. Renowned for presenting traditional classics, the Theatre also develops new works. It has presented several hundred productions, and has been invited to perform in many countries and regions, gaining much international acclaim.
Three performances will be held at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Each performance will run for about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission of 15 minutes. Lyrics and dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $180, $280, $380 and $480 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.cof.gov.hk/2023/en/peking.html.
A Meet-the-Artists session entitled "Elegance and Poise in Peking Opera's Qingyi Role" (in Putonghua) will be held at 7.30pm on June 15 (Thursday) at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speaker will be Wang Rongrong, and the moderator will be Chinese opera researcher Chan Chun-miu. Admission is free, with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details can be found on the above-mentioned website.
Since its inception in 2010, the COF has curated quality operatic programmes with the aim of promoting the artistry and culture of Chinese traditional opera. COF 2023 will once again bring together an excellent line-up of Chinese opera troupes to stage nine quality operatic programmes covering a variety of theatrical genres, including Peking opera, Qu opera, Sichuan opera, Han opera, Cantonese opera, Wu opera, Kunqu opera and Yue opera, from June to October, showcasing the splendour of Chinese operatic art in all its glory. For more details, please visit www.cof.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, May 12, 2023
Issued at HKT 10:30
Issued at HKT 10:30
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