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.

The charm of theatrical genres of Sichuan has been recognised since the Tang dynasty. During the dynasties of Ming and Qing, Sichuan Opera rode on the foundation of dengxi (Lantern Opera) and absorbed the unique regional singing styles of Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hubei, Shaanxi and Gansu to develop into an opera that comprises of five different singing styles, namely kunqiang, gaoqiang, huqin, tanxi and traditional dengxi. The resultant format, known as Sichuan Opera, is recited and sung in the Sichuan dialect. It employs a vivid and lively theatrical language. Packed with vibrant regional flavours and filled with life, it is well received by the audience. Shen Tiemei, three-time winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre and “Diva of Sichuan Opera”, will be making her debut at the Chinese Opera Festival and joining up with the winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre Sun Yongbo in the gaoqiang full-length production Li Yaxian – a play reputed as the Chinese La Traviata. Shen Tiemei won the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre for the third time with her performance in this play. The audience can appreciate the tenderness and elegance of Shen’s unique Sichuan Opera singing. The excerpt performance show comes with four classics of Sichuan Opera. Battle at Mount Tielong is a representative poladan (shrew) play in Sichuan Opera. The stylised movements and sleeve routines of the lead character Queen Du are a feast for the eyes. Capturing the Tiger is played by renowned chou (comic) performer Luo Jilong. The play is characterised by the unique Sichuan Opera features to present a tragedy with comedic acting. Shen Tiemei will act in the masterpiece Yearning for the Secular World, a play that requires the main lead female role to play guimendan (highborn female), nudan (maid servant) and huadan (young female) roles with supreme singing and acting skills. The essence of a cappella singing in Sichuan Opera is brought out to its fullest. Forcing her Nephew to Take the Imperial Examination is headlined by Sun Yongbo. It highlights the distinguished and admirable charm of xiaosheng (civil male) role in Sichuan Opera.

The charm of theatrical genres of Sichuan has been recognised since the Tang dynasty. During the dynasties of Ming and Qing, Sichuan Opera rode on the foundation of dengxi (Lantern Opera) and absorbed the unique regional singing styles of Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hubei, Shaanxi and Gansu to develop into an opera that comprises of five different singing styles, namely kunqiang, gaoqiang, huqin, tanxi and traditional dengxi. The resultant format, known as Sichuan Opera, is recited and sung in the Sichuan dialect. It employs a vivid and lively theatrical language. Packed with vibrant regional flavours and filled with life, it is well received by the audience. Shen Tiemei, three-time winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre and “Diva of Sichuan Opera”, will be making her debut at the Chinese Opera Festival and joining up with the winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre Sun Yongbo in the gaoqiang full-length production Li Yaxian – a play reputed as the Chinese La Traviata. Shen Tiemei won the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre for the third time with her performance in this play. The audience can appreciate the tenderness and elegance of Shen’s unique Sichuan Opera singing. The excerpt performance show comes with four classics of Sichuan Opera. Battle at Mount Tielong is a representative poladan (shrew) play in Sichuan Opera. The stylised movements and sleeve routines of the lead character Queen Du are a feast for the eyes. Capturing the Tiger is played by renowned chou (comic) performer Luo Jilong. The play is characterised by the unique Sichuan Opera features to present a tragedy with comedic acting. Shen Tiemei will act in the masterpiece Yearning for the Secular World, a play that requires the main lead female role to play guimendan (highborn female), nudan (maid servant) and huadan (young female) roles with supreme singing and acting skills. The essence of a cappella singing in Sichuan Opera is brought out to its fullest. Forcing her Nephew to Take the Imperial Examination is headlined by Sun Yongbo. It highlights the distinguished and admirable charm of xiaosheng (civil male) role in Sichuan Opera.

25/6/2017 (Sun) 7:30pm
Excerpts
“Lu Bu Pacing His Horse”; “Burning Zidu Alive”; “Shenting Ling”; “Shaving His Hair, Flooding Jinshan Temple & The Broken Bridge” from “The Legend of the White Snake”
Main Cast: Yang Xiayun, Wu Wenling, Lou Sheng, Chen Jianxu, Zhou Hongwei, Huang Xiaomin, Song Baoduan

Lyrics and dialogue with Chinese and English surtitles