-
The Legend of the White Snake
Introduction This is a Chinese love story about White Snake and a mortal. White Snake and Green Snake succeeded in transforming themselves into human beings after thousand years of practice. Then the white snake fell in love with a mortal… Synopsis A thousand-year-old white snake in the O-Mei Mountains decided to visit the famous West Lake. Taking her sister-servant, a green snake, she transformed herself into a beautiful young lady and toured the West Lake, where she met a handsome young man in the rain. She and the young man shared an umbrella, and fell in love with each other. Later on, the white snake married the young man. The…
-
The Golden Falcon
Introduction Golden Falcon is the tale of forbidden love between a golden falcon and an angel, who choose to continue their affair against opposition even after one is forcefully banned from Heaven. Synopsis Because their amorous affair is against the laws of the celestial gods, Golden Falcon, a heavenly warrior, is confined to Heaven and Precious Deer, a celestial sylph, cast down to earth to live as a commoner. Their love for each other unstoppable, however, the two find a way to stay together in secret. Fearful of what may happen to them if caught, they are alert of what is happening around them. When they hear thunder and see…
-
Farewell My Concubine
Introduction Farewell My Concubine is a highlight of the classical Chinese opera showcase of love, tragedy, and the devotion between a king and his favored concubine during the ancient Chinese Warring Period. Synopsis The time is 207 B. C. At the wild hilly site of Gai-xia, the Chu king Hsiang Yu, leading his small troop, is ominously surrounded by the large army of his arch-rival, Liu Bang of the Han. Despite a brilliant fight Hsiang Yu puts up, he is so outnumbered that he has to retreat and barely makes it back to his headquarters. In his encampment, King Hsiang recounts the humiliating battle to his favorite imperial consort, Lady…
-
Guan Yu
Guan Yu, having been captured by Cao Cao and treated as a VIP, learned the whereabouts of his comrades Liu Bei and Zhang Fei one day. He found Zhang Fei had took over Gu-cheng, where Zhang and Liu’s army was now stationed. At once Guan Yu returned the gold Cao Cao gave him in a sealed envelope and hanged the stamp that signified power, also given to him by Cao Cao, and left to seek Liu and Zhang at Gu-cheng. Cao Cao, on hearing about Guan’s departure, followed Guan to Ba Bridge and presented good wine and silk robes as token of friendship. Pouring the wine over his weapon…
-
Sun Bin and Pang Juan
Sun Bin (died 316 BC) and Pang Juan (died 342 BC) were Chinese generals and military strategists who lived during the Warring States period of Chinese history. They were both tutored in military strategy by the hermit Guiguzi and developed a close friendship, while studying in seclusion with their teacher in mountainous regions. Pang left and ventured to the Wei state and impressed the king with his proposals on policies to strengthen the Wei state. Later he led the Wei armies to victories in battles against smaller states and became a highly respected figure in Wei. Pang invited Sun Bin to join him in serving the Wei state later but…
-
The Confidants
Our friendship will last forever. In another life, we shall be friends once more, and you must remember the gravity of our words. Synopsis Wu Zhaoqian, a scholar in Emperor Shunzhi’s reign in Qing Dynasty, wrongfully accused in the Scandal of the Jiangnan Provincial Examination, was exiled to Ningguta (now Ning’an, Heilongjiang). His close friend Gu Zhenquan tried everything in his power to rescue him, but to no avail. In the 15th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, Wu had been exiled for 18 years, and Gu was still attempting rescue. His remembrance of Wu was immortalized in the “Jin Lu Qu” (Ballad of the Golden Threads) titled “Is…
-
Lotus Lantern
Forbidden love between a mortal man and a goddess shook heaven. Synopsis This is a story about a goddess and a human being falling in love and a son rescuing his mother from imprisonment. Liu Yan-chang and the goddess fell in love in the shabby temple where she was worshipped. Soon the goddess was carrying their baby. The goddess’s brother learned about this, came to the temple, and tore the couple apart by throwing the man back into the human world. Liu Yan-chang (Liu) was rescued by a poor family of mother and daughter Gui-ying who looked a lot like the goddess. The goddess gave birth to a boy, Chen-xiang,…
-
The Jester
Rigoletto in Peking Opera “The Jester” by Taipei Liyuan Peking Opera Theatre is “Rigoletto” recomposed. Immediately afterwards its premiere in Novel Hall, Taipei, in May, 2009, it was presented in China by the Beijing Dance and Drama Season in November, 2009, the Shanghai Expo in October, 2010, and a tour of 13 cities in 2013, which is overwhelmingly warmly received. “The Jester” is about 150 minutes long, with one intermission. The plot has been changed slightly from the western opera and all the names into Chinese. Rigoletto the Jester is not hunch-backed, because the jesters in Chinese history were rarely deformed or disabled; instead, they were mostly gifted in…