The regional operas of Shaanxi province are characterized by their diverse genres. Amongst them, Qinqiang, Wanwanqiang and Meihu Operas were included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Qinqiang Opera is the origin of the bangzi vocal style. It is widely popular in Shaanxi and Gansu areas. The singing style is resounding, powerful and intense, while the performances are full of energy. Wanwanqiang Opera, which literally translates as “bowl singing”, is named after the copper bowls used as the main accompanying percussion. The romantic and delicate music of this opera genre features elegant lyrics. The music of Meihu Opera belongs to the musical system of set tunes – the melodies are beautiful and the acts are performed in a lively style. Guanzhongdaoqing Opera is also known as Chang’an-daoqing. It was originally sung at a seated round table, performed in a temporary stage in a plaza or as shadow puppet shows. The music and singing style is mainly based on a variation of tempos. The winners of Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre and two-time winners of the Award at Shaanxi Traditional Opera Research Institute will be presenting the spectacular classic excerpts of these four ancient genres. The Xi’an Yisu Society will also be invited to showcase representative works of Qinqiang Opera. This century-old institution comprises a long list of renowned artists and it is one of the oldest surviving art troupes in the Mainland, having created and performed more than 700 plays in its repertoire since its establishment. The theatre premises of the Society has also been listed as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage Unit Preserved at the National Level”. Romance in the Closet and Watching the Maiden presented in this festival were the first productions staged by Xi’an Yisu Society in 1915 – they are timeless plays that have been delighting the audience for more than 100 years.
Qinqiang Opera Excerpts:Little Banquet, Romance in the Closet, Black Tiger on the Counter, A Lesson from the Mother, Watching the Maiden, On Broken Bridge

The regional operas of Shaanxi province are characterized by their diverse genres. Amongst them, Qinqiang, Wanwanqiang and Meihu Operas were included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Qinqiang Opera is the origin of the bangzi vocal style. It is widely popular in Shaanxi and Gansu areas. The singing style is resounding, powerful and intense, while the performances are full of energy. Wanwanqiang Opera, which literally translates as “bowl singing”, is named after the copper bowls used as the main accompanying percussion. The romantic and delicate music of this opera genre features elegant lyrics. The music of Meihu Opera belongs to the musical system of set tunes – the melodies are beautiful and the acts are performed in a lively style. Guanzhongdaoqing Opera is also known as Chang’an-daoqing. It was originally sung at a seated round table, performed in a temporary stage in a plaza or as shadow puppet shows. The music and singing style is mainly based on a variation of tempos. The winners of Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre and two-time winners of the Award at Shaanxi Traditional Opera Research Institute will be presenting the spectacular classic excerpts of these four ancient genres. The Xi’an Yisu Society will also be invited to showcase representative works of Qinqiang Opera. This century-old institution comprises a long list of renowned artists and it is one of the oldest surviving art troupes in the Mainland, having created and performed more than 700 plays in its repertoire since its establishment. The theatre premises of the Society has also been listed as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage Unit Preserved at the National Level”. Romance in the Closet and Watching the Maiden presented in this festival were the first productions staged by Xi’an Yisu Society in 1915 – they are timeless plays that have been delighting the audience for more than 100 years.
Qinqiang Opera Excerpts:Little Banquet, Romance in the Closet, Black Tiger on the Counter, A Lesson from the Mother, Watching the Maiden, On Broken Bridge

“Love Tunes on the Zither from Romance of the West Chamber”
“Seeking out His Wife from He Wenxiu”
“Crying at the Ancestral Temple from The Tragedy of Liu Chen”
“Meeting at the Study from Meng Lijun”
“Fortune-telling from The Prince of the Desert”
“The Interrogation from Interrogating the Husband”
“Meeting in the Pavilion from The Butterfly Lovers”

Yue Opera (also known as “Shaoxing Opera”) is known for its brilliant lyrical repertoire, which is primarily presented with singing. The melodies of Yue Opera are soft and gentle; the singing style is elegant, beautiful and full of grace. The Number One Troupe of the Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Group will be staging The Dream of the Red Chamber, the signature play of Yue Opera. Built around the tragic love story of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, the play reveals the rise and fall of an extended feudal family. The Dream of the Red Chamber has been performing recurrently since its premiere. In fact, its name was once synonymous to Yue Opera. The Double-pearl Phoenix Hairpin is a classic in the repertoire of the Lu (Jinhua) school. It tells the boy-meets-girl story of Wen Bizheng, a Ming dynasty first-place scholar of Luoyang’s provincial examination, and the beautiful Huo Dingjin, the only daughter of the Minister of Appointment Huo Tianrong. The new edition has preserved the classic singing segments and plotlines, but the libretto has been updated to tell an even more dazzling tale with romantic twists and turns after Wen and Huo fall in love at the first sight. The newly written play Bronze Bird Terrace is adapted by Li Li, the former director of Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Group and National Class One Playwright, and her co-writer Huang Yan. The play presents the story of Zhen Luo and Cao Zhi. After its 2014 premiere in the Mainland, Bronze Bird Terrace will be staging in Hong Kong for the first time. The three full-length plays are all led by Fang Yafen, a celebrated Yuan (Xuefen) school huadan (female lead) role performer, the winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre and the director of Number One Troupe of the Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Group. She will be sharing the stage with Lu (Jinhua) school xiaosheng (young male) role player and National Class One Actor Xu Biaoxin, as well as Yin (Guifang) school xiaosheng role player Qi Chunlei. The excerpt performance will be presented by seasoned guest artists and the winners of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre, Shan Yangping who plays the huadan role of the school of Wang (Wenjuan) and renowned Fan (Ruijuan) school xiaosheng role player Zhang Ruihong.

Two top-notch Peking Opera troupes are visiting Hong Kong to showcase their distinguished talents to kick off the Chinese Opera Festival. The first three performances will be headed by the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing. The opening performance A Right Royal Match is a lively and entertaining traditional Peking Opera. Esteemed performing artists Yu Kuizhi, Du Zhenjie and Yang Shaopeng will be co-playing Liu Bei; Li Shengsu and Zhang Huifang will be co-playing Sun Shangxiang. Also in the cast is the representative xiaosheng (young male) actor Li Hongtu and other renowned artists. A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass is another classic that features reverberating singing. The cast comprises of Tan Xiaozeng (celebrated laosheng (old male) of the Tan (Xinpei) school), Zhu Qiang (laosheng of the Ma (Lianliang) school), Du Zhenjie (laosheng of the Yang (Baosen) school), as well as guest performer Yang Chi (direct apprentice of Yuan Shihai). The Fourth Son Visits his Mother is a representative work of Wang Rongrong, renowned leading qingyi (virtuous female) of the Zhang (Junqiu) school. She will be partnering with laosheng actors Zhang Jianfeng, Tan Zhengyan, Yang Shaopeng and Zhu Qiang, who will be co-performing the role of Yang Yanhui. The First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company will take the lead in the next three performances. Yu Kuizhi, a leading artist playing the laosheng role, will be headlining in Pillars of the Dynasty, Visiting the Mausoleum and The Two Faithful Courtiers; he will be co-starring with Li Shengsu, a dan (female) performer who has inherited the art of Mei Lanfang, and Yang Chi. The production is characterized by demanding singing segments that bring out the rapport and virtuosity of the cast. The Nymph of Luo River and The Unofficial Biography of Taizhen are both famous Mei (Lanfang) school repertoires. The Loss of Jieting, Empty City Stratagem, Executing Ma Su, on the other hand, is a representative Peking Opera title that underscores the art of laosheng.

Two top-notch Peking Opera troupes are visiting Hong Kong to showcase their distinguished talents to kick off the Chinese Opera Festival. The first three performances will be headed by the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing. The opening performance A Right Royal Match is a lively and entertaining traditional Peking Opera. Esteemed performing artists Yu Kuizhi, Du Zhenjie and Yang Shaopeng will be co-playing Liu Bei; Li Shengsu and Zhang Huifang will be co-playing Sun Shangxiang. Also in the cast is the representative xiaosheng (young male) actor Li Hongtu and other renowned artists. A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass is another classic that features reverberating singing. The cast comprises of Tan Xiaozeng (celebrated laosheng (old male) of the Tan (Xinpei) school), Zhu Qiang (laosheng of the Ma (Lianliang) school), Du Zhenjie (laosheng of the Yang (Baosen) school), as well as guest performer Yang Chi (direct apprentice of Yuan Shihai). The Fourth Son Visits his Mother is a representative work of Wang Rongrong, renowned leading qingyi (virtuous female) of the Zhang (Junqiu) school. She will be partnering with laosheng actors Zhang Jianfeng, Tan Zhengyan, Yang Shaopeng and Zhu Qiang, who will be co-performing the role of Yang Yanhui. The First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company will take the lead in the next three performances. Yu Kuizhi, a leading artist playing the laosheng role, will be headlining in Pillars of the Dynasty, Visiting the Mausoleum and The Two Faithful Courtiers; he will be co-starring with Li Shengsu, a dan (female) performer who has inherited the art of Mei Lanfang, and Yang Chi. The production is characterized by demanding singing segments that bring out the rapport and virtuosity of the cast. The Nymph of Luo River and The Unofficial Biography of Taizhen are both famous Mei (Lanfang) school repertoires. The Loss of Jieting, Empty City Stratagem, Executing Ma Su, on the other hand, is a representative Peking Opera title that underscores the art of laosheng.

Two top-notch Peking Opera troupes are visiting Hong Kong to showcase their distinguished talents to kick off the Chinese Opera Festival. The first three performances will be headed by the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing. The opening performance A Right Royal Match is a lively and entertaining traditional Peking Opera. Esteemed performing artists Yu Kuizhi, Du Zhenjie and Yang Shaopeng will be co-playing Liu Bei; Li Shengsu and Zhang Huifang will be co-playing Sun Shangxiang. Also in the cast is the representative xiaosheng (young male) actor Li Hongtu and other renowned artists. A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass is another classic that features reverberating singing. The cast comprises of Tan Xiaozeng (celebrated laosheng (old male) of the Tan (Xinpei) school), Zhu Qiang (laosheng of the Ma (Lianliang) school), Du Zhenjie (laosheng of the Yang (Baosen) school), as well as guest performer Yang Chi (direct apprentice of Yuan Shihai). The Fourth Son Visits his Mother is a representative work of Wang Rongrong, renowned leading qingyi (virtuous female) of the Zhang (Junqiu) school. She will be partnering with laosheng actors Zhang Jianfeng, Tan Zhengyan, Yang Shaopeng and Zhu Qiang, who will be co-performing the role of Yang Yanhui. The First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company will take the lead in the next three performances. Yu Kuizhi, a leading artist playing the laosheng role, will be headlining in Pillars of the Dynasty, Visiting the Mausoleum and The Two Faithful Courtiers; he will be co-starring with Li Shengsu, a dan (female) performer who has inherited the art of Mei Lanfang, and Yang Chi. The production is characterized by demanding singing segments that bring out the rapport and virtuosity of the cast. The Nymph of Luo River and The Unofficial Biography of Taizhen are both famous Mei (Lanfang) school repertoires. The Loss of Jieting, Empty City Stratagem, Executing Ma Su, on the other hand, is a representative Peking Opera title that underscores the art of laosheng.

Two top-notch Peking Opera troupes are visiting Hong Kong to showcase their distinguished talents to kick off the Chinese Opera Festival. The first three performances will be headed by the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing. The opening performance A Right Royal Match is a lively and entertaining traditional Peking Opera. Esteemed performing artists Yu Kuizhi, Du Zhenjie and Yang Shaopeng will be co-playing Liu Bei; Li Shengsu and Zhang Huifang will be co-playing Sun Shangxiang. Also in the cast is the representative xiaosheng (young male) actor Li Hongtu and other renowned artists. A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass is another classic that features reverberating singing. The cast comprises of Tan Xiaozeng (celebrated laosheng (old male) of the Tan (Xinpei) school), Zhu Qiang (laosheng of the Ma (Lianliang) school), Du Zhenjie (laosheng of the Yang (Baosen) school), as well as guest performer Yang Chi (direct apprentice of Yuan Shihai). The Fourth Son Visits his Mother is a representative work of Wang Rongrong, renowned leading qingyi (virtuous female) of the Zhang (Junqiu) school. She will be partnering with laosheng actors Zhang Jianfeng, Tan Zhengyan, Yang Shaopeng and Zhu Qiang, who will be co-performing the role of Yang Yanhui. The First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company will take the lead in the next three performances. Yu Kuizhi, a leading artist playing the laosheng role, will be headlining in Pillars of the Dynasty, Visiting the Mausoleum and The Two Faithful Courtiers; he will be co-starring with Li Shengsu, a dan (female) performer who has inherited the art of Mei Lanfang, and Yang Chi. The production is characterized by demanding singing segments that bring out the rapport and virtuosity of the cast. The Nymph of Luo River and The Unofficial Biography of Taizhen are both famous Mei (Lanfang) school repertoires. The Loss of Jieting, Empty City Stratagem, Executing Ma Su, on the other hand, is a representative Peking Opera title that underscores the art of laosheng.