LI Bao-Chun on Traditional Chinese Operas
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6/7 The Concubine Went Drunk、At the Hu Village
The Concubine Went Drunk
YANG Yu-Huan by KUNG Yueh-Tzu
GAO Li-Shi by CHUANG Chiao-Wei
PEI Li-Shi by LIN Jing-Chen
Jinhu (Head of Strings): TSENG Hsiao-Chu
Drum (Head of Percussions): WU Cheng-Han
Duration: 120 minutes
Filmed on March 26, 2022, Family Theater, Taipei
“ The Concubine Went Drunk” is among the most renown Peking Opera pieces by Maestro Mei Lan-Fang. The opera depicts Emperor Xuan-Zong of the Tang Dynasty favored Concubine Yang, who at his order arranged a banquet at the Hundred Blossom Pavilion. Awaiting the Emperor's arrival, Concubine Yang learned that the Emperor had gone to Consort Mei’s quarter. Feeling despondent, she drank alone and became thoroughly drunk. Then she sorrowfully returned to her own palace.
Maestro Mei created this opera, enriched in the arts of arias, accompaniment, and movements. He meticulously crafted Concubine Yang’s emotional changes from anticipation to disappointment, then to irritation and complaint. His portrayal of the Concubine was regal and elegant, with gripping melodies and challenging movements such as the "reclining fish" and the "backbend." Every detail of his creativeness has become a classic.
At the Hu Village
HU San-Niang by YU Chi-Jou
WANG Ying by WANG Yung-Tzeng
LIN Chong by HSU Yan-Kai
Kunqu Flute: LEE Yu-Ching
Drum: CHEN Chun
Duration: 120 minutes
Filmed on March 26, 2022, Family Theater, Taipei
An episode from Water Margin about Hu San-Niang, a female warrior of the Hu Village, came to the aid of Zhu Village and stood against the “heroes” of the Liangshan Marsh who, in return, attack the Hu Village under Chao Gai’s command and with Song Jiang and Wang Ying in the lead.
Wang Ying went first to fight Hu San-Niang, but he was unfortunately captured. All other Liangshan fighters were defeated by Hu, too. In the end, the brave “Panther Head” Lin Chong arrived in the battlefield. And he captured Hu San-Niang.
6/14 Cosmos Tip, a Precious Royal Sword
ZHAO Yan-Rong by CHEN Yu-Xuan
ZHAO Gao by LEE Ching-Fong
Emperor QIN II by LIN Jing-Chen
Maid by LIN Shi-Ying
Jinhu (Head of Strings): TSENG Hsiao-Chu
Drum (Head of Percussions): WU Cheng-Han
Duration: 120 minutes
Filmed on March 27, 2022, Family Theater, Taipei
Cosmos Tip is a classic and technically demanding work of the Mei school, revised and refined by Master Mei Lan-Fang.
Cosmos Tip was a treasured royal sword once bestowed upon Kuang Hong, a founding minister of the Qin dynasty. When Qin’s founding Emperor died, his son Hu Hai became Emperor Qin II, and the new emperor’s mentor Zhao Gao soon dominated the court.
Kuang Hong openly opposed Zhao Gao, who then plotted to destroy the Kuang family. He arranged for his daughter, Zhao Yan-Rong, to marry Kuang Hong’s son and had Cosmos Tip stolen from the Kuang household in order to frame the Kuang’s for attempting to assassinate the emperor.
Kuang Hong was imprisoned as a result, while his son escaped by changing clothes with his servant Zhao Zhong, who died in his master’s place. Zhao Yan-Rong returned to her father’s home in feigned mourning, hoping to persuade Zhao Gao to pardon her husband’s family.
In a night visit to the Zhao’s, Emperor Qin II saw Yan-Rong’s beauty and asked her to become his consort. Yan-Rong followed her maid’s silent hint and pretended to have become insane. When brought before the throne, she continued her act and boldly denounced the emperor’s tyranny. The enraged Qin II ordered her execution…
6/21 Lin Chong Fled at Night、A Battle of Wits at Fortress Lian-Huan
Lin Chong Fled at Night
LIN Chong by HSU Yan-Kai
Kunqu Flute: LEE Yu-Ching
Drum: CHEN Chun
Duration: 30 minutes
Filmed on June 2, 2024, The Metropolitan Hall, Taipei
Adapted from Water Margin, this story described how Lin Chong, after killing two snoops sent by Gao Qiu, was pursued relentlessly by the authorities. Chai Jin advised him to seek refuge at Liang-shan Mountain. Fearing he would be recognized under the daylight, Lin Chong traveled by night. One evening, while taking a rest in an old temple, he fell asleep and dreamed of a divine figure warning him that Xu Ning with five hundred soldiers was crossing the Yellow River after him. Lin Chong awoke in alarm and hurried at once toward the Liangshan Marsh.
A Battle of Wits at Fortress Lian-Huan
HUANG Tian-Ba by LI Bao-Chun
DOU Er-Dun by LEE Ching Fong
ZHU Guang-Zu by CHOU Shen-Hsing
Jinhu (Leader of Strings): TSENG Hsiao-Chu
Drum(Leader of Percussions): CHEN Chun
Duration: 50 minutes
Filmed on June 2, 2024, The Metropolitan Hall, Taipei
Chief Dou Er-Dun of Fortress Lian-Huan had an old grudge against Huang San-Tai. To frame Huang San-Tai, therefore, he stole a horse, a royal gift, from Lord Liang while Liang was hunting. Huang San-Tai’s son, Huang Tian-Ba, was a young man of strength and wit. Pretending to be an armed escort, he entered Fortress Lian-Huan in search of the horse. Upon making sure the horse was in the Fortress, he revealed his identity to Dou Er-Dun and challenged Dou to a fight the next day. Dou Er-Dun promised to return the horse and surrender himself to the authorities if he lost.
6/28 Yang Pai-Feng
Yang Pai-Feng by YU Chi-Jou
Dowager Lady SHE by LI Zhao-Yun
YANG Yan-Zhao by LI Zhao-Yun
MENG Liang by LEE Ching-Fong
JIAO Zan by SU Chien-Yu
HAN Chang by SHIH Hung-Chun
YE-LU Xiu-Ge by HSU Yan-Kai
Yang Pai-Feng, a humble kitchen maid of the Yang household, rose to become a heroine unexpectedly. In the war between Song and Liao, General Yang Zong-Bao of Song was captured by Han Chang. Yang Pai-Feng volunteered to go to his rescue, but the Song generals doubted her ability. She demonstrated her strength on the training ground, wielding nothing more than a firewood staff as she defeated seasoned warriors Meng Liang and Jiao Zan. Having won the generals’ trust, she went on to confront Han Chang and succeeded in rescuing Yang Zong-Bao.
