Peking Opera is the most influential dramatic form in China and the so-called 'national drama'. If you want to see an impressive Peking Opera in Beijing, the Mei Lanfang Classics is a good choice.
Mei Lanfang (1894 - 1961), born in a family of Peking Opera actors, began to learn the performing art at eight, and made his debut at ten. He became a superstar in the 1910s, turning Dan (female roles) to a prominent role of Peking Opera. In his dramatic career of 60 years, Mei Lanfang performed and created over 200 plays, making his contributions to the singing patters, speaking lines, dance, music, costumes and make-up and gradually forming his unique style, the so called ‘Mei School’. On a par with Stanislavsky (U.S.S.R.) and Brecht (Germany), he is known as a representative of the Chinese performing arts school.
As one of the few remaining & oldest guildhalls in Beijing, Temple Theatre Beijing Opera House was also called 'Banking House Guildhall'. On Dec. 5, 2010, the unique two-story opera tower staged a spectacular performance - 'Mei Lanfang Classics', five highlights from Mei Lanfang's classical works, bringing the audience to a condensed appreciation of Peking Opera performing art within 90 minutes.
Program List
1.Battle with Invaders- In order to fight the invading Jin troops, Liang Hongyu, wife of General Han Shizhong of the Song Dynasty, went to the battlefield to beat the drums, fight against invaders and finally won a grand victory.
2.Drunken Princess- Emperor Ming makes an appointment with Princess Yang to enjoy the flowers and drink the wine. Princess gets the banquet ready but the emperor has gone to another Princess’s palace. Princess Yang is annoyed and has to drink by herself until she gets drunk.
3.Taking Command of Troops- When the lord of West Xia starts a rebellion, the female general Mu Guiying takes command of the troops again at the age of fifty. This play is the acme of Mei School and the last play of Meilanfang through his life.
4.Sylph Scattering Flowers- The Buddha orders the heavenly maid to scatter the blossoms in Vimalakirtinirdesa’s room in order to test his faith. The heavenly maid scatters the blossoms in front of Vimalakirtinirdesa and proclaims the Buddha’s words before she returns to the west.
5.Farewell to Princess Yu- Xiang Yu, Hegemon king of West Chu, is encircled by the king of Han. Hegemon king’s princess, Yu, drinking the wine and dancing with the sword, commits suicide. Afterwards, Hegemon king says farewell to his war-horse and kills himself by the Wujiang River.
Venue: Temple Theatre Beijing Opera House
Address: No. 220 River Bank Street ofQianmenWest, Beijing
中国北京前门西河沿街220号
ShowTime: 8:00 - 9:30 pm Every Friday and Saturday
Prices: RMB 280, 480, 580, 1,600
