The Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu was last in Hong Kong in 2006. It will return to Hong Kong for a re-run of The Peony Pavilion – The Youth Version, a classic in Chinese opera of our time, featuring the original cast. Curated by the renowned novelist, Pai Hsien-yung, who will also be the Chief Producer, the production brings together leading names in cultural and artistic circles of China. Their collaboration marks a synthesis of heritage and innovation and instils the joy and life of youth into the art of Kunqu. Between its premiere in 2004 and today, The Peony Pavilion – The Youth Version has allowed us to witness the revival and perpetuation of the art form and to feel our resonation with traditional culture. It is therefore a highly influential and popular piece in contemporary theatre.
The Peony Pavilion – The Youth Version is an ingenious mix of music, singing and dance. While it retains the poetic finesse of Kunqu, its staging seamlessly blends classical charm with modern appeal, as shown in the portrayal of characters and in the technical aspects. The music is based upon the vocal styles of the original older version and traditional set tunes, and the original lyrics are fully adopted. Structurally, the current production is condensed from 55 to 27 episodes, presented in three parts: ‘Love in a Dream’, ‘Love between a Mortal and a Ghost’, and ‘Love in This World’. The essence of the magnum opus of the great Ming dynasty dramatist, Tang Xianzu (1550–1616), is conveyed through the composite aesthetics of ‘drama, songs, lines, dance and humanity’.
Now seventeen years later, Shen Fengying and Yu Jiulin, both China Theatre Plum Blossom Award winners, are revisiting the Hong Kong stage. During this time, they have honed and improved their art through more than 300 performances on tour, and have morphed from their juvenile greenness to the consummate artistry of mature actors. Together, they bring to us again in Hong Kong the touching love story of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei that transcends death.
Lyrics and dialogue with Chinese and English surtitles.
Audience is strongly advised to arrive punctually. Latecommers will only be admitted at a suuitable break.
Co-presenter
The Peony Pavilion - The Youth Version
The Peony Pavilion is a story of love and about love. The libretto is based on the Ming drama The Peony Pavilion, the magnum opus of the great Ming dynasty dramatist, Tang Xianzu (1550–1616), and is meticulously edited to tell the story in three parts: ‘Love in a Dream’, ‘Love between a Mortal and a Ghost’ and ‘Love in This World’.
Structurally, the current production is condensed into 27 episodes presented in three parts. The full-length performance lasts for three consecutive days, for a total of eight hours. Such an extended running time would allow fans of Kunqu to immerse themselves in the wonderfully aesthetic world of the genre. As Mr Pai Hsien-yung said, “Kunqu is, in a nutshell, about ‘beauty’ – the beauty of words, the beauty of dance, the beauty of music and the beauty of humanity. It is a comprehensive art form that showcases beauty.”
The Peony Pavilion – The Youth Version is a signature production of the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu, created by the leading artists of traditional theatre and culture, with renowned writer Mr Pai Hsien-yung as the chief producer, and top Kunqu performing artists Wang Shiyu and Zhang Jiqing as artistic consultants. The stars of the cast are Shen Fengying, winner of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award and the Wenhua Award, and Yu Jiulin, also a winner of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award.
28.7.2023 (Fri) 7:30pm
Part One: Love in a Dream
The story takes place in the Southern Song period (960—1279). Du Bao, Prefect of Nan’an, is a very strict parent. His daughter, Liniang, is a quiet and sweet beauty.
One spring day, she goes to the back garden with her maid, Chunxiang. As she sees the beautiful spring scene, her amorous heart is awakened. She falls asleep in the garden and dreams of having an amorous encounter with a handsome scholar at the Peony Pavilion. She wakes up and begins to pine for the elusive love, so much so that she soon dies.
29.7.2023 (Sat) 7:30pm
Part Two: Love between a Mortal and a Ghost
Then somewhere, there is a scholar by the name of Liu Mengmei. He happens to find a portrait of Liniang and expresses his admiration for her beauty. The spirit of Liniang is invoked, and despite the rift between the worlds of the living and the dead, the two become husband and wife. Liu goes to Liniang’s tomb to resurrect her out of true love, and Liniang comes back to life.
30.7.2023 (Sun) 7:30pm
Part Three: Love in this World
But no sooner is the couple enjoying their newly married life than they are forced to part. Liu wades through thick and thin to find Liniang’s father, only to be treated as a tomb raider and is tortured and beaten. Later, Liu comes first in the national civil examination. At the imperial court, he is highly honoured by the emperor, and the whole family is reunited.
The running time of the performance is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including an intermission of 15 minutes.
Lyrics and dialogue with Chinese and English surtitles.
Cast
Du Liniang: Shen Fengying
Liu Mengmei: Yu Jiulin
Chunxiang: Shen Guofang
Sister Stone: Tao Hongzhen
Chen Zuiliang: Shen Zhiming
Du Bao: Qu Binbin
Lady Du: Chen Lingling
Judge in Hell/Li Quan: Tang Rong
Old Woman Yang: Lu Jia
Guo the Hunchback/Diplomatic Officer/Old Boatman: Lu Fuhai
Foreign Envoy/Miao Shunbin: Fang Jiangguo
Flower Spirit/Bar Keeper: Liu Chunlin
Emperor: Xu Yun
Creative Team
Chief Producer and Artistic Director: Pai Hsien-yung
Producer: Cai Shaohua
Director: Wang Shiyu
Artistic Directors: Wang Shiyu, Zhang Jiqing (d.)
Information provided by the arts group.
Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu
As a professional performing arts company located in the birth place of the Kunqu art form, the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu stands out among the other troupes through its efforts to uphold the age-old traditional format and the unadulterated style and features of Kunqu Opera. Its first generation of veteran actors adopted ‘chuan’ as the middle character of their stage names. From then on, it has trained up five generations of artists in the Suzhou stylistic school of Kunqu Opera, whose middle characters in their stage names are ‘Ji’, ‘Cheng’, ‘Hong’, ‘Yang’ and ‘Zhen’. Wang Fang won the high honour of being presented the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award twice. Other artists who have won the Plum Blossom Award include Shen Fengying, Yu Jiulin and Zhou Xuefeng. The company has, in the last decade or more, made landmark achievements in not only the Kunqu Opera circle but also the cultural milieux in general through the creation of their signature productions such as The Peony Pavilion – The Youth Version, The Palace of Eternal Life, The Peony Pavilion – Botantei Sino-Japanese Version, The Great Beauty Xi Shi, The Tale of the Jade Hairpin, Scepters Piling on the Couch, The White Silk Gown, The Legend of the White Snake, The Story of the Pipa, etc. While the company has contributed to the perpetuation of the art form and its classical repertory, at the same time it has continued to make Kunqu a timeless art and Kunqu Opera a cultural phenomenon.
Chinese Opera Festival 2023: Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu 'The Peony Pavilion' - The Youth Version
DATE
VENUE
PRICE
28.07.2023 (Fri) 19:30
29.07.2023 (Sat) 19:30
30.07.2023 (Sun) 19:30
Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
Tickets available from 12 May at all URBTIX outlets, self-service ticketing kiosks, on internet, by mobile app, telephone and at the Xiqu Centre Ticket Office.
Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
Group Booking Discount – 10% off for each purchase of 4-9 standard tickets; 15% off for 10-19 standard tickets; 20% off for 20 or more standard tickets.
‘Chinese Opera Festival 2023’ Package Discount – For each purchase of standard tickets for different Chinese Opera Festival 2023 performances, the following concession applies: 10% off for 3-4 different performances; 20% off for 5 or more different performances.
Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount offers. Please inform the box office staff at the time of purchase.
Smart Price – You can enjoy a further reduction of $9 per ticket, even if you are already eligible for half-price / group booking / package discounts, by booking through the URBTIX website, mobile app or telephone.
Programme Enquiries: 2268 7325
Ticketing Enquiries and Customer Service: 3166 1100
Telephone Booking: 3166 1288
Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
Mobile App: URBTIX
Programme Enquiries: 2268 7325
Ticketing Enquiries and Customer Service: 3166 1100
Telephone Booking: 3166 1288
Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
The presenter reserves the right to change the programme and substitute artists.
The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
TICKETING
DATE
VENUE
PRICE
28.07.2023 (Fri) 19:30
29.07.2023 (Sat) 19:30
30.07.2023 (Sun) 19:30
Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
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