On February 21^st, Peking Opera Qingyi will be unveiled at NCPA, which will prelude its national tour.

Produced and created by Jiangsu Grand Theatre and co-produced by Jiangsu Performing Arts Group, original Peking Opera Qingyi was the beginning masterpiece of the 1^st Zijin Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera Art Gala, which was premiered in Zijin Grand Theater in Jiangsu Province on November 30^th, 2016. It is highly praised by the professionals and acclaimed by the audience, and is awarded Outstanding Repertoire Award and Performance Award in Zijin Awards for Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera Art. On January 10^th, 2017, Qingyi was highlighted by People’s Daily as one of the “Five Recommended Dramas of 2016”.

Qingyi depicts a lady with craze about Peking Opera

Qingyi is adapted from the novel with the same title, which is authored by Mr. BI Feiyu (laureate of MAO Dun Literature Award), and presents artistic image of XIAO Yanqiu, a lady with craze about Peking Opera. The six-act Peking Opera presents Chang'e dancing in moon palace, glorious “Qingyi” (the demure middle-aged or young female character type in Peking Opera) as well as XIAO Yanqiu’s ordinary daily life. Mental process of modern women represented by XIAO Yanqiu is revealed, which lays stress on their advance and retreat, survival predicament of being at a loss, brave struggle and pursuit for self-redemption path, as well as determination and courage for fighting against the fate.

The survival predicament is also discussed on the stage

Since its inception, the novel Qingyi has been successively adapted into TV series, dance drama and other versions. “Qingyi” is an occupation of Peking Opera so that some Peking Opera buffss call for “return of Qingyi”, which is the initial intention of Jiangsu Grand Theatre to create this original work. It is particularly worth mentioning that in order to support culture undertaking of his hometown, BI Feiyu sells copyright of his novel Qingyi to Jiangsu Grand Theater at the expense of “RMB 1” only.

Qingyi brings together domestic top-grade cast and crew

Author BI Feiyu, LI Yijie, National-level Grade-A Performer, actress of MEI School and role player of XIAO Yanqiu, and composer and conductor WU Xiaoping are reputable artists of Jiangsu Province. This work brings together domestic top-grade cast and crew. LIU Jianjie, National-level Grade-A Performer, winner of Plum Blossom Award of the Chinese Drama and Vice President of Shandong Peking Opera Theater, plays the role of QIAO Bingzhang. CHEN Junjie, actor of Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe under Beijing Peking Opera Theatre engaged in Hualian (male character with a painted face in Chinese operas), plays the role of Miangua. FANG Murong, an outstanding young performer who came out top in massive selection for Qingyi in 2016, plays the important role Chunlai.

The cutting-edge set design is revealed as well as its avant-garde orchestration and direction

Different schools of Peking Opera radiate unique charms on the stage, and famous artists gather together behind the stage. Stage director ZHANG Manjun is known as “Drama Brainwasher” in China. As a director of dozens of new plays, she is a multi-award winner of various national awards. YIN Xiaodong, National-level Grade-A Composer and President of China children's Art Theatre, and CHEN Jianzhong, Professor at Music Department, National Academy of Chinese Theatre Art, have been invited to design music for voices. LIU Xinglin, Professor of the Central Academy of Drama and winner of Performance Design Award of Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, has presented his stage design. XING Xin, Grade-A Lighting Designer of National Theatre Company of China, took charge of the lighting design. LAN Ling, National-level Grade-A Set Designer, has been appointed as the costume designer.

Leading actress LI Yijie portrays herself somehow in Qingyi

In an previous interview, stage director ZHANG Manjun repeatedly expressed her love for Qingyi. “BI Feiyu describes a distinctive character, and writes a heartbreaking story on the destiny”. Qingyi crystallizes her greatest efforts, as she personally adapted the script six times. She deals with the finale in a warmer manner. Leading actress LI Yijie frankly says that she is exactly “Qingyi”, and it can be said that she stars in this work with inherent qualities.