As spring blossoms and everything revives, Kunqu Opera's youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Since its first appearance on the stage in Taipei in 2004, this traditional drama has been performed nearly 500 times around the world and has become a bright business card of Chinese culture. From March 15th to 31st, the original cast and crew joined hands with the original stage design, and the play once again set foot on the soil of Taiwan, from Kaohsiung to Hsinchu, and then to Taipei, sowing the seeds of art along the way, allowing the ancient Kun Opera to shine in modern society Out of vitality.
"The Peony Pavilion" originated from the writings of Tang Xianzu. It tells a love story that transcends life and death between Du Liniang, a famous lady, and Liu Mengmei, a scholar. This work is not only a classic of Kun Opera, but also a treasure in the treasure house of Chinese culture. However, at the threshold of the new century, Kun Opera once faced the dilemma of inheritance. It was against this background that Bai Xianyong stepped forward and planned and launched the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" with a sincere heart for traditional culture, igniting the fire of hope for the revival of Kun Opera.
Bai Xianyong affectionately recalls his indissoluble bond with Kun Opera in his new book "Twenty Years of Peonies Blooming - Youth Version of "The Peony Pavilion" and the Revival of Kun Opera". He mentioned that he first came into contact with Kun Opera when he was nine years old and was deeply attracted by this art. It seemed that there was a love thread that tied him to Kun Opera and they could no longer be separated. In 2000, Bai Xianyong suffered a heart attack and was in critical condition, but what he cared about most was the future of Kunqu Opera. This made him more determined to revive this art after his recovery.
In 2004, Pai Hsien-yong joined hands with cultural and opera elites from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. After more than a year of preparation, the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" premiered in Taipei and achieved unprecedented success. Over the past twenty years, this play has been performed on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and across Europe and the United States. It not only revitalizes the traditional aesthetics of Kun Opera, but also allows the world to see the charm of Chinese culture.
The reason why the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" is able to attract so many audiences, especially the younger generation, is that it pays equal attention to tradition and innovation. The crew adheres to the principle of "only delete but not modify" and uses new aesthetics and modern theater concepts to re-present classics in front of the audience. This combination of traditional inheritance and innovation has allowed Kun Opera, an ancient art form, to find new vitality in modern society. Bai Xianyong said that the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" is like a fire, igniting young audiences' enthusiasm for Kunqu Opera and bringing back the glory of this ancient opera. He named this play the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion", which also conveyed his hope that Kun Opera's life will remain youthful forever. When
came to the end of the performance in Taipei, Bai Xianyong said excitedly: "Many students from Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Chiayi, Taitung and other places came to Taipei to watch the performance. The house was full for three days, and there were many young people. It can be seen that this The opera has traveled through time and place. Kun Opera is a cultural treasure of our Chinese nation. We must protect and promote it together."
Shen Fengying, who plays Du Liniang, said with emotion: "We came to Taipei on April 29, 2004. "I was very excited to return to Taipei in 2024, and it was of great significance." She pointed out that although Kun Opera has a long history, the age group of Kun Opera audiences has changed through this drama. decline. "This drama provides young people with a channel to understand Kun Opera." Shen Fengying said, "I hope the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" can stay young forever and attract more young audiences with a youthful mentality.
Yu Jiulin, who plays Liu Mengmei, emphasized, The success of the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" is inseparable from the crew's attitude toward excellence. Yu Jiulin recalled that the most strict member of the crew was Bai Xianyong. His attitude was reflected in every detail of the show, including the careful design of the props. and use, because the essence of art lies in the attention to detail and the interpretation of characters in depth. Yu Jiulin said: "We have witnessed the revival of Kun Opera. In the past two decades, we have brought the public's aesthetic appreciation and love for traditional culture, especially young people. People’s aesthetic appreciation and love for Kun Opera have been cultivated. As a participant, I feel very proud."
In this era, the inheritance and development of traditional culture are facing many challenges, but the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" has given traditional culture new vitality with its unique charm. With the complete success of the 20th anniversary performance, Bai Xianyong revealed that the upcoming 500th performance of the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" is expected to be performed in Beijing. He said that this drama will continue to be performed, allowing Kunqu Opera, a Chinese cultural treasure, to continue to shine.
The Strait Herald Station. Taiwanese reporter Ye Xinhang’s text/picture
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