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Stage · ST108

Opera

Signature plays and scenes of regional opera, where every role type sings of joy, parting and reunion.

52works

21entries

Kunqu Opera

5 works

Chuanqi plays and scenes sung in the refined water-mill style, with elegant lyrics and exquisite movement.

Play · Ming dynasty, Wanli era

The Red Plum BlossomsA Ming chuanqi by Zhou Chaojun about Pei Yu and Li HuiniangZhou ChaojunSSET10199 Play · Ming, 1598

The Peony PavilionTang Xianzu's chuanqi drama of 1598, kept alive on the Kunqu stage through scenes such as The Interrupted DreamTang XianzuSE10094 Play · 1688 (completed in the 27th year of Kangxi)

The Palace of Eternal LifeHong Sheng's chuanqi of fifty scenes, drawn from the Song of Everlasting Regret and Rain on the Paulownia TreeHong ShengSE10172 Play · 1699 (finished in the sixth month of the 38th year of Kangxi)

The Peach Blossom FanKong Shangren's chuanqi in forty-four scenes, finished in 1699 after three draftsKong ShangrenSE10173 Play · Mid-Ming (by Liang Chenyu, who lived 1520–1592)

The Girl Washing SilkLiang Chenyu's chuanqi, the first to bring the refined Kun singing style onto the stageLiang ChenyuSE10174

Peking Opera

7 works

A vast repertoire of emperors, generals, scholars and beauties, sung in the xipi and erhuang modes.

Play · Qianlong reign of the Qing (from the local huabu play The Drunken Concubine Yang)

The Drunken ConcubineGrown from a Qianlong-era local play and polished by Mei Lanfang into a signature work of the Mei schoolMei LanfangSE10175 Play · Qing, 1802 (earliest surviving performance record)

Yu Tang ChunA story first told by Feng Menglong in the late Ming; its earliest recorded staging dates from 1802Peking opera performers of the traditional repertoireSE10179 Play · 1918 (as The Chu–Han Contest) to 1922 (present title)

The Hegemon-King Bids His Concubine FarewellPeking opera staged by Mei Lanfang and Yang Xiaolou in 1922, best known for Consort Yu's sword danceMei Lanfang · Qi Rushan · Wu ZhenxiuSE10095 Play · 1940 (premiered at the Golden Theatre, Shanghai)

The Unicorn PurseWritten by Weng Ouhong at Cheng Yanqiu's request and first staged at the Golden Theatre in Shanghai in 1940Weng Ouhong · Cheng YanqiuSE10177 Play · Written 1959, premiered 1960 (Peking opera)

The Women Generals of the Yang FamilyA Peking opera by Fan Junhong and Lü Ruiming, first staged in 1960Fan Junhong · Lu RuimingSSET10204 Play · Date unknown (traditional Peking opera play)

The Empty City StratagemFrom chapter 95 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Zhuge Liang plays the zither on the wall and an army turns backPeking opera performers of the traditional repertoireSE10176 Play · Qing (an earlier form, Balang Visits His Mother, was part of a late Qing serial play of the Sixi troupe)

Silang Visits His MotherFifteen years after his capture, Yang Silang slips back one night to see his mother; a play built on singingPeking opera performers of the traditional repertoireSE10178

Cantonese Opera

3 works

Plays and arias sung in Cantonese bangzi and erhuang, the southern opera of the old red boats.

Play · 1957 (premiered in Hong Kong on 7 June)

The Flower PrincessTang Disheng's Cantonese opera for the Sin Fung Ming troupe, first staged at the Lee Theatre in Hong Kong in 1957Tang DishengSE10096 Play · Qing (said to date from the Tongzhi reign)

The Six Kingdoms Appoint a ChancellorThe ritual opening play of Cantonese opera, in which six kingdoms make Su Qin their chancellorCantonese opera performers (said to have been adapted by Liu Huadong in the Tongzhi reign)SE10180 Play · Written and staged in the 1930s (filmed in 1940)

Why Not ReturnWritten by Feng Zhifen; Xue Juexian's cast with Shanghai Mei and Bun Yat On was hailed as the original versionFeng Zhifen · Xue JuexianSE10181

Yue Opera (Shaoxing Opera)

3 works

Romances of scholars and maidens are its forte, sung with gentle, heartfelt tenderness.

Play · 1946 (first staged by the Xuesheng troupe with Yuan Xuefen in the title role)

Xianglin's WifeAdapted from Lu Xun's story The New Year's Sacrifice and first staged in Yue opera by Yuan Xuefen in 1946Liu NanweiSE10182 Play · Date unknown (the source play, Ten Beauties, was staged in the all-male era of Yue opera)

Questioning and Seeking the HusbandFrom the older play Ten Beauties: Yan Lanzhen questions her new husband Zeng Rong in a Yue opera favouritethe Shanghai Yue Opera House (re-adapted from Yao Shuijuan's performing script)SE10183 Piece · 1958–1959 (premiered 1959)

Butterfly Lovers Violin ConcertoHe Zhanhao and Chen Gang's violin concerto built on Yue opera tunes, first performed in Shanghai in 1959He Zhanhao · Chen GangSE10062

Huangmei Opera

3 works

Fresh, homespun Huangmei plays, mostly about love and village life.

Play · 1953 (Lu Hongfei's adaptation)

The Fairy CoupleHuangmei opera in Lu Hongfei's 1953 adaptation, filmed in 1955 with Yan Fengying and Wang ShaofangLu HongfeiSE10097 Play · Date unknown (traditional Huangmei opera short play)

Gathering Pig FodderA short Huangmei opera in folk tunes, in which a village girl and a bamboo-shoot guard quarrel and make friendsHuangmei opera folk performersSE10184 Play · Date unknown (traditional Huangmei opera short play)

Husband and Wife Watch the LanternsA short Huangmei opera in which Wang Xiaoliu and his wife go out to see the Lantern Festival lightsHuangmei opera folk performersSE10185

Yu Opera (Henan Opera)

3 works

Bangzi-sung tales of the Central Plains, rich in heroines and upright magistrates.

Play · First staged 1951

Hua MulanYu opera adapted by Chen Xianzhang from the Peking opera Mulan Joins the Army, a signature role of Chang XiangyuChen Xianzhang · Wang Jingzhong · Chang XiangyuSE10098 Play · Date unknown (Chang Xiangyu made her name in Kaifeng with the role early in her career)

HongniangFrom The Romance of the Western Chamber: Chang Xiangyu's Hongniang, sung with eastern Henan tunes, made her famousChen Xianzhang · Chang XiangyuSE10186 Play · Traditional (from the old play The Fragrant Pouch); date unknown

Carrying the Bridal SedanFrom the old play The Fragrant Pouch; Yao Shufang and Song Guiling turned the sedan-chair ride into its showpiece sceneSong GuilingSE10187

Ping Opera (Pingju)

2 works

Plainspoken plays of family and marriage, telling the joys and sorrows of ordinary households.

Third Sister Yang Files a LawsuitCheng Zhaocai's Ping opera of 1919, drawn from a real case of 1918 and regarded as the form's first lasting classicCheng ZhaocaiSE10100 Play · Around 1919 (written by Cheng Zhaocai)

Flowers as MatchmakerWritten by Cheng Zhaocai from a Strange Tales story and filmed in 1963 with Xin Fengxia in the leadCheng Zhaocai · Wu Zuguang · Chen Huaiping · Lü ZiyingSE10188

Qinqiang Opera

7 works

Soaring bangzi plays of the northwest, often of loyal martyrs, battles and court cases.

Play · First staged 1918

Three Drops of BloodFan Zidong's Qinqiang opera for the Yisu Society, first staged in 1918 and built around a blood test of kinshipFan ZidongSE10099 Play · Ma Jianling's 1954 version

The Orphan of Zhao (Qinqiang)Adapted by Ma Jianling in 1954 and first staged by the Qinqiang troupe of the Shaanxi Opera Research InstituteMa JianlingSSET10202 Play · Mid-Qing (traditionally credited to Li Fanggui as a wanwanqiang play)

The Fiery SteedWang Huaiwei's new version premiered with the Sanyi Troupe in 1954 and became the first colour Qinqiang film in 1958Li Fanggui · Wang HuaiweiSE10189 Play · Older text undated; Ma Jianling's 1953 version

Touring West LakeA Qinqiang play grown from the Ming chuanqi The Red Plum Blossoms, its scenes widely performedMa JianlingSSET10198 Play · Date unknown

Wudian SlopeA traditional Qinqiang play drawn from folk legend and the Baochuan song textAnonymous; drawn from folk tradition and a Ming anonymous 'Baochuan' lyric textSSET10203 Excerpt · Date unknown

Beating Jiao ZanThe kitchen maid Yang Paifeng beats Jiao Zan with her fire-pokerTraditional Qinqiang piece; author and adapter unknownSSET10205 Play · Written 1959, premiered 1960 (Peking opera)

The Women Generals of the Yang FamilyA Peking opera by Fan Junhong and Lü Ruiming, first staged in 1960Fan Junhong · Lu RuimingSSET10204

Sichuan Opera

2 works

Plays mixing five vocal styles, laced with stunts such as face-changing and fire-breathing.

Excerpt · Date unknown (drawn from The Jade Hairpin, written by Gao Lian in the Wanli reign of the Ming)

The Autumn RiverGrown out of the Farewell Chase scene of The Jade Hairpin, with only the nun and the boatman on stageSichuan opera performersSE10142 Excerpt · Date unknown (a scene of the high-tune Sichuan opera The Silk Pavilion)

Reading the Snow and the FootprintsA high-tune scene of the Sichuan opera The Silk Pavilion: footprints in the snow make Lü Mengzheng doubt his wifeSichuan opera performersSE10190

Han Opera

1 works

Old pihuang plays of Hubei, with every role type and a plain, archaic style of singing and acting.

Play · 1952 (reworked from the traditional Han opera by the Central-South opera delegation)

The Cosmic BladeReworked in 1952 into two scenes, it became the signature piece of Chen Bohuathe Central-South opera delegation (1952 rework)SE10143

Xiang Opera

2 works

Hunan plays in high-pitched and plucked-string styles, from history plays to serial dramas.

Play · Date unknown (descended from Guan Hanqing's Moon Pavilion and the Ming play The Secluded Chamber)

Praying to the MoonFrom Guan Hanqing's Moon Pavilion; only single scenes survive, chiefly Snatching the Umbrella and Praying to the MoonXiang opera performersSE10144 Play · Late Yuan (southern drama by Gao Ming)

The Story of the LuteGao Ming's late Yuan southern drama, still sung in high-tune Xiang opera scenes such as Painting the PortraitGao MingSE10192

Liyuan Opera

2 works

Plays handed down from early southern drama, with delicate stage steps and lilting songs.

Play · Ming, printed edition of 1566

Chen San and WuniangLiyuan opera rooted in the Ming play The Lychee and the Mirror, taught anew by Cai Youben in 1952generations of Liyuan opera performers in QuanzhouSE10101 Play · Song–Yuan (an old southern drama kept in Liyuan opera)

Cai BojieAn old Song–Yuan play of the Shanglu branch of Liyuan opera, keeping the early form of the Zhao the Chaste Woman storyLiyuan opera performers of the Shanglu branch in QuanzhouSE10193

Puxian Opera

1 works

Plays that keep the manners of Song–Yuan southern drama, archaic in movement and plain in song.

Play · 1956 (adapted from the traditional play Shi Tianwen and first staged)

After the ReunionAdapted by Chen Renjian from the traditional play Shi Tianwen and first staged in Xianyou in 1956Chen RenjianSE10145

Tibetan Opera

2 works

Masked open-air plays telling Buddhist tales and legends of kings and princes.

Play · Date unknown (one of the eight traditional Tibetan operas)

Prince NorsangOne of the eight great Tibetan operas, and the most influential of the three plays of the Jianggar troupeTibetan opera performersSE10146 Play · Date unknown (one of the eight traditional Tibetan operas)

Princess WenchengCalled the Han Consort and the Nepali Consort in Tibetan, it is one of the eight great Tibetan operasTibetan opera performersSE10194

Gan Opera

1 works

Jiangxi plays in high-pitched and plucked-string styles, keeping the drum-backed chorus of Yiyang singing.

Play · Date unknown (reworked by Shi Linghe; filmed in 1958)

The PearlA Gan opera classic reworked by Shi Linghe and filmed as an opera film in 1958Shi LingheSE10147

Teochew Opera (Chaozhou Opera)

1 works

Plays sung in Teochew, especially admired for their clown roles and maiden scenes.

Excerpt · Date unknown (from the Ming chuanqi Gao Wenju and the Pearl)

Meeting at the WindowThe Meeting in the Study scene of a Ming chuanqi, one of the three gems of Teochew operaTeochew opera performersSE10148

Jin Opera (Shanxi Opera)

1 works

Shanxi bangzi plays with flowing, lyrical singing, the grand opera of the old merchant heartland.

Play · Date unknown (traditional Jin opera play)

Striking the Golden BoughThe consort strikes the princess; filmed in 1955 as the first stage documentary of Jin operaJin opera performersSE10149

Gezai Opera (Taiwanese Opera)

1 works

Plays sung in Minnan to seven-syllable and weeping tunes, homely as the speech of home.

Play · Date unknown (one of the four great early local gezai plays)

Shanbo and YingtaiOne of the four great plays of early local gezai, sung mostly to seven-character and old tunesYilan folk gezai performersSE10150

Shanghai Opera (Huju)

2 works

Shanghainese plays in modern dress about family life, carrying the everyday air of the city's lanes.

Play · 1952 (staged at the first national opera festival)

The Luohan CoinAdapted from Zhao Shuli's story The Registration; won a script award at the 1952 national opera festivalZong Hua · Wen Mu · Xing Zhi · Liu RuzengSE10151 Play · Date unknown (a duet play of over a century ago, later a full-cast play)

Meeting at the NunneryA traditional Shanghai opera that grew from an early two-person duet into a full-cast playShanghai tanhuang performersSE10195

Lü Opera (Lüju)

2 works

Shandong country plays to the zhuiqin fiddle, sung about everyday family matters.

Play · Around 1900 (staged in costume by Shi Dianyuan and others in Guangrao)

Wang Xiao Drives the DonkeyThe earliest Lü opera play, whose donkey prop gave the form its first nickname, the donkey operaearly Lü opera performers of Guangrao in ShandongSE10196 Play · 1954 (adapted from Wang Anyou's story of the same name and first staged)

Second Sister-in-Law Li RemarriesAdapted by Liu Meicun and others from Wang Anyou's story and first staged by the Shandong Lü Opera Troupe in 1954Liu Meicun · Liu Qiying · Jin Huixin · Wang Zhaosheng · Zhang BinSE10152

National Opera

2 works

Through-composed operas blending folk song and opera melodies, drawn from legends and modern life.

Play · April 1945 (first performed in Yan'an)

The White-Haired GirlLibretto by He Jingzhi and Ding Yi, music by Ma Ke and others, first staged in Yan'an in 1945He Jingzhi · Ding Yi · Ma Ke · Zhang Lu · Qu WeiSE10153 Play · October 1947 (first staged at Yetao, Wu'an)

The Red Leaf RiverWritten by Ruan Zhangjing from his time in Chiyehe village, Lingchuan, and first staged at Yetao in October 1947Ruan Zhangjing · Gao Jieyun · Zhang Jinde · Liang HanguangSE10197