Presenter: Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre 
Original Author: Tang Xianzu (Ming Dynasty) 
Lead Cast: Wei Chunrong, etc. 
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Multi-functional Theatre 
Dates: Mar. 13-14, 2010　  19:30 
Price:  280　  180　  120 RMB

Programme Introduction

The Peony Pavilion is a masterpiece of playwright Tang Xianzu in Ming Dynasty. The opera depicts the love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei, which reflects the pursuit of young men and women for the life of free love.

Since its debut, there have been so many legendary effects. It is recorded that after reading the play, some girls at that time were so deeply moved that "resent and sigh to die". In Hangzhou, there were actresses who played the scene of "searching dreams" died on the stage because of over excitement.

From Ming Dynasty till now, The Peony Pavilion has almost become synonym of Kunqu Opera.

Synopsis
In Southern Song Dynasty, the local officer of Nan'an called Du Bao wholeheartedly trained his daughter Liniang into "a model of gentle lady". But Liniang was yearning for freedom. One day, she took her maid Chunxiang to ramble in the garden.

Back from the garden, Liniang fell asleep and met a scholar in front of the peony pavilion in her dream. After waking up, she was very lovesick and her feeling was difficult to release, so that she painted her portrait by herself, composed her last words and departed her life with regret.　

Du Bao buried his daughter under the plum trees in the garden according to Liniang's last words.

The person in Liniang's dream is Guangdong scholar Liu Mengmei. He came to visit Nan'an also because of his dream and happened to get Liniang's portrait.

Later, Liniang was resurrected and become forever love of Mengmei.

Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre
Founded in 1957, Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre is China's only state-level Kunqu Opera performing organization in the north of Yangtze River. During half a century of art transmission, a large number of outstanding performing artists of Kunqu Opera joined in its transmission in northern China. In addition to inheritance of traditional repertoires, the Theatre also created and adapted Princess Wencheng, Conveying Jingniang for Thousands of Miles, Guan Hanqing and other new repertories, and realized innovation and continuity of this art form in a new historical stage. Inherited from one origin, the Theatre has played a vital role in promoting inheritance and development of Kunqu Opera art in northern China.

More from Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre: Romance of the Western Chamber
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 The Palace of Eternity
 
　
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