Beijing Meilanfang Grand Theater (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Qian Yulian, Yu Xuejiao-played by Wang Shipeng and Shao Zheng-played by

On May 18, 2001, Kunqu Opera art was unanimously approved and was included in the first batch of "Representative List of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO, becoming the world's "Intangible Cultural Heritage" No. 001. Since then, the long-awaited Kunqu Opera art has regained its vitality, and the cultural and aesthetic values of Kunqu Opera have begun to attract widespread attention from the whole society.

Queen Mother Bai Xiaojun-Ordered, Qian Popular Navy-Ordered

Yao's Pan Xiaojia-played, Zhang's mother Wang Yi-played

Today, Kunqu Opera has been selected for the 22nd anniversary. Over the past 22 years, the art of Kunqu Opera with a long history and profound heritage has long been "changed into a new look." As the only professional Kunqu Opera performance troupe north of the Yangtze River, the Northern Kunqu Opera Theater has always adhered to the artistic policy of "inheritance, protection, innovation, and development" and is unswervingly committed to inheriting and promoting excellent traditional culture, carefully irrigating this "Orchid" quietly blooms, making this ancient art flourish and fruitful in the contemporary era.

Wanqi Shi Shuyue and Wang Shipeng

Sun Banzhou Zhang Huan-Ordered, Inherited by Yu Hang-Ordered

On the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage" of Kunqu Opera, the "Commemorate the 22nd Anniversary of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Kunqu Opera-Northern Kunqu Opera Theater Repertoire Performance" was held at the Meilanfang Grand Theater, which continuously staged new plays and classic traditional plays in recent years., comprehensively displaying the unique charm and charming style of "Intangible Cultural Heritage Art".

Selected stills (Photography: Feng Ganyong)

Last night,"Jing Chai Ji" performed in Beikun, as the first of the "Four Great Southern Operas", plays an extremely important role in the history of Chinese opera. Since its inception, it has been performed vigorously, such as "Seeing Mother","Meiling","On the Road" and other broken operas, but the play "Jing Chai Ji" has long disappeared from the Kunqu Opera stage for a long time.

As early as 1960, two old artists Bai Yunsheng and Ma Xianglin from the Northern Kunqu Opera Theater taught the play to teachers Zhang Yuwen, Xu Fengshan, Zhou Wanjiang, Wang Xiaorui, etc., who were still young at the time, and put the play on the stage and aroused enthusiastic response. Reshaping this play again not only inherits the tradition, but also pays tribute to the older generation of artists.

This time, in the process of resuming the Kunqu opera "Jing Chai Ji" in Beikun, the literary and artistic characteristics of its works were preserved to the greatest extent possible. The play takes the love story of Qian Yulian and Wang Shipeng as the main line, and extracts classic passages from the original work to make the main line complete and coherent.

In terms of music, the melodic characteristics of its original qupai are retained, and arrangements and orchestration are added to make the music better highlight the atmosphere and express emotions. In terms of stage beauty, combine the characteristics of modern theaters to create a stage beauty presentation with traditional charm. This play is personally directed by teachers Zhang Yuwen and Xu Fengshan. It is a classic play that is traditional but not outdated and can be renewed through time.

"The Story of Jing Chai" tells the story: During the Southern Song Dynasty, Wenzhou Qianfan wanted to marry his daughter Yulian, born by his ex-wife, to a poor scholar Wang Shipeng. His stepwife Yao was greedy for wealth, but she wanted to marry Yulian to the rich Sun Banzhou. The two had no choice but to agree that Yulian would choose herself. Yu Lian knew that Wang Shipeng had a profound character, so she resolutely took the Wang family's betrothal gift-Jing Chai, and married Shipeng.

Two months after their marriage, Shipeng went to Beijing to take the exam and won the first prize. He was about to serve as a magistrate in Raozhou. Prime Minister Wanqi Qi Qi was a remnant of the traitor Qin Hui. On the day he joined the prime minister, he wanted to recruit Wang Shipeng as his son-in-law. Shipeng said that he had a wife in his family and resolutely refused to marry him. In his anger, Wanqi Qi transferred Wang Shipeng to Chaoyang, a remote smoky place.

Wang Shipeng sent Cheng to write a letter to take over his family and take over his post. Unexpectedly, the letter from home was deceived by Sun Banzhou, who was conspiring to seize Yulian, and it was changed into a letter of divorce. After receiving the false letter from home, Qian Fengxing was ridiculed by Yao Shi and scolded him. He was furious and died in a rage. Yao expelled the Queen Mother and forced Yulian to remarry Sun Banzhou. Yulian refused to obey and was flogged and locked in the embroidery room to be married. Late at night, Yulian broke through the window and escaped. She found her mother-in-law and threw herself into the river.

Qian Zaihe, the pacifier of Fujian Province, took his family to take up his post, rescued Yulian in the Oujiang River and regarded him as his adopted daughter. Zaihe sent someone to Raozhou to inquire about Shipeng. When he heard the misinformation and thought Shipeng was dead, Yulian was angry and angry, and vowed to stay for life.

Five years later, Wanqi was taken into account in the rectification, and Shipeng was transferred to the post of prefect of Ji 'an. On July 15th, the Mid-Yuan Festival, Yulian went to Jiangxin Temple to pay homage to the ten friends. The couple met unexpectedly, Jing Chai met again, and the whole family was reunited.

Perfect curtain call (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Last night, Qian Yulian and Wang Shipeng, played by outstanding young actors Yu Xuejiao and Shao Zheng in Beikun respectively, as well as a series of characters in the play played by Bai Xiaojun, Haijun, Pan Xiaojia, Shi Shuyue, Zhang Huan, etc., all had distinct personalities and remarkable points. The tacit cooperation of all the actors perfectly reflected the "one dish" spirit of the Northern Kunqu Opera Theater in artistic performance. After the performance that night, the actors took the stage to call the curtain. The audience warmly cheered and applauded one after another, echoing in the theater for a long time. (Photo and text: Feng Ganyong)