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China National Peking Opera Company’s adaption of Yue opera classic Birthday Celebration by Five Daughters, created for the debut of its newly established Youth Troupe, is a grand showcase of the impressive skill and versatility of the company’s young performers.
In 2022, China National Peking Opera Company founded its Youth Troupe as a way to cultivate new generations of xiqu talent. As the year also marked the 40th anniversary of the premiere of popular Yue opera Birthday Celebration by Five Daughters, the company decided to adapt it into a new Peking opera production. The creative team, led by renowned director Yang Xiaoqing, elevated the work’s depth and literary quality by giving the story better-developed characters and a fuller arc. Through the cross-genre transplantation, the new adaptation is strengthened by Peking opera’s distinct advantages including its comprehensive range of role types and schools while retaining the signature elegance of Yue opera.
Set in the Ming dynasty, the story begins on the 60th birthday of high-ranking politician Yang Jikang. All of his five daughters and their husbands have come to his residence for a party, but the least well-to-do couple, his foster daughter Sanchun and son-in-law Zou Yinglong, are shunned by the family and kicked out of the house. Soon, Yang is framed by a political rival and loses his title, wealth and home, and Sanchun turns out to be the only child willing to take him in. Fortunately, Zou gets his big career breakthrough just in time to help his father-in-law clear his name and rescue the Yang clan. As Mrs Yang’s 60th birthday rolls in, the whole family once again unites for a day of celebration, rejoicing together after pain and turmoil.
Cast:
Tian Lei, Zhang Lan, Zhou Jing, Ma Along, Zha Sina, Jin Xing, Guo Xiao, Du Zhe, Liu Qi, Zhao Jia, Jiang Meiyi, Zhu Lingyu, Wang Jingrong, Bi Xiaoyang, Zhang Jiachun, Zhang Bing, Li Chen
China National Peking Opera Company
Founded in 1955, China National Peking Opera Company is a national arts organisation under the direct supervision of China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Peking opera titan Mei Lanfang served as its first president. The company is currently led by its president Wang Yong, Member of the CPPCC National Committee, Vice Chairman of the China Theatre Association and a National Class One Playwright; and artistic director Yuan Huiqing, Member of the CPPCC National Committee and a National Class One Performer.
Since its establishment, the company has been home to an array of esteemed Peking opera artists including Li Shaochun, Yuan Shihai, Ye Shenglan, Du Jinfang, Weng Ouhong, Fan Junhong and A’Jia.
In its 80-odd-year history, China National Peking Opera Company has staged over 600 operas with a variety of themes and styles, intellectual depth and high artistic and production value. Its most iconic works include Mu Guiying Assumes Command, The Legend of the White Snake, Havoc in Heaven and A River All Red.
In addition to its traditional repertoire, the company has in recent decades produced a series of modern operas and new adaptations such as The Xi'an Incident, Birthday Celebration by Five Daughters and Romance of the Western Chamber.
As one of the country’s premier xiqu troupes, the company has been working on promoting traditional Chinese culture and cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world.