Highlights of three Kunqu Opera classics will be performed next
Thursday as part of the year-long traditional Chinese opera
festival, "Made in Shanghai."
Young artists Shen Yili and Yuan Guoliang from the Shanghai
Kunqu Opera House will present excerpts from the classics "The
Slaughter of Thousands of Loyal Officials," "The Peony Pavilion"
and "The Phoenix Hairpin."
One of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese opera, Kunqu
Opera originated in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, 600 years ago.
"The Slaughter of Thousands of Loyal Officials" is based on the
real tragedy of Fang Xiaoru, a top scholar in the early Ming
Dynasty (1368-1644).
He was executed because of his opposition to Emperor Zhu Li, who
grabbed imperial power by deposing his nephew. The wrathful Zhu not
only killed Fang's family and relatives, but also killed his
students - the victims totaled thousands.
Yuan will depict the courageous and unyielding Fang with his
soaring vocals and impressive body language.
The famous love tale "The Peony Pavilion," however, will lead
audience to another fabulous and romantic art world.
A representative work by dramatist Tang Xianzu of the 16th
century, the play has heavily influenced the development of drama
in China.
The story tells of young lovers Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei and
their pursuit of love that transcends death.
Du has a dream in a pavilion in which she meets a young scholar
and promises to marry him. When she wakes up, she yearns for her
dream lover and falls ill from longing; she eventually dies of
lovesickness. The young scholar in her dream is Liu, who makes his
way to the capital to take the imperial examination. He meets Du's
soul and agrees to help her return to life by reuniting her soul
with her body.
The highlight of the Thursday evening performance will be "The
Phoenix Hairpin," in which Yuan and Shen will perform together as a
couple in love.
?In the story, famed poet Lu You of the Southern Song
dynasty (1127-1279) chances to meet Tang Wan in the Garden of Shen.
They fall in love and get married, but Lu's mother forced them to
divorce 10 years later.
Both of the lovers grieve. Lu composes a famous poem, "The
Phoenix Hairpin," expressing his feelings about their love and
inscribes it on the garden wall. Tang writes a love poem of the
same name, and soon dies of a broken heart.
"We have made some changes to the original script and tried to
make the love story more beautiful and emotional," says Yuan.
"Traditional dancing will also be added to express the characters'
sad moods."
The production includes beautiful verses of Chinese poetry and
traditional and folk music, creating a dreamlike ambience.
Date: October 18, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 People's Ave
Tickets: 50, 80 yuan
Tel: 5258-3600, 6372-8702
(Shanghai Daily October 12, 2007)