Toronto audiences are invited to celebrate the Lunar New Year and usher in the Year of the Horse with the Peking Opera on February 13. The presentation by the China National Peking Opera House is part of a three-city Canadian tour.
The special performance stars two of the renowned Peking Opera artists — Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu — along with a troupe of more than 30 elite performers from the National Peking Opera Company of China, and a full Peking Opera orchestra. The production is imbued with the qualities associated with the Year of the Horse — the renewal of traditions, and new beginnings.
The National Peking Opera Company of China operates within the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Peking Opera artists Li Shengsu and Yu Kuizhi perform “Butterfly Love” (2021):
The Performance
The performance will consist of a series of separate scenes that, together, flesh out a story. Each of the four traditional roles — sheng (male), dan (female), jing (painted face), and chou (clown) — will be represented. The scenes will incorporate singing, recitation, acting and acrobatics, along with elaborate costumes and design elements.
Musical selections include an array of opera scenes.
Pear Blossom Song (Lihua Song)
This is the theme song from the recently adapted historical Peking Opera the Imperial Consort of the Tang Dynasty. It is based on the Erhuang melody system, enhanced by Mei School vocal techniques. The scene is elegant and uses innovation to revive historical tradition.
Havoc in Heaven
The Peking Opera classic features the iconic Monkey King, Sun Wukong, a role performed on tour by Wang Haoqiang. The lively piece blends acrobatics, tumbling, combat, stylized movement and dance in a dynamic and funny performance.
The Story of Lady Taizhen (Taizhen Waizhuan)
This romantic tragedy revolves around the story of Lady Taizhen (Yang Yuhuan), who was a much loved consort of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty during his later years. Yang Yuhuan was first married to the Emperor’s son. When his first wife, Consort Wu, died, the Emperor became depressed. Only Yang Yuhuan and her beauty could rouse him from his depression, and he arranged to marry her, despite the stigma. To bypass the scandal, he ordained her as a Taoist nun, with the Taoist name Taizhen. That’s how she became the Imperial Consort or Guifei, the highest level concubine of the Imperial Court.
The Palace of Eternal Life (Changsheng Dian)
This scene continues the story of the Emperor Tang Minghuang and Yang Yuhuan. Yu Kuizhi portrays the older Emperor, and Li Shengsu plays the part of Yang throughout the scenes. The opera is characterized by its lyrical beauty and elegance of movement.
Other selections include:
- Wujiapo
- The Yang Family Female Generals
- Farewell My Concubine
- Sancha Kou
An excerpt from Peking Opera’s “Sanjia Inn” presented by Yu Kuizhi (2021):
A Golden Partnership: Yu Kuizhi & Li Shengsu
Li Shengsu and Yu Kuizhi count among the most renowned artists of the Peking Opera tradition, which dates back more than 200 years. The two artists have been performing together for many years.
Yu Kuizhi
Yu is a prominent member of the Peking Opera, and a National First-Class Actor who specializes in laosheng roles. A variation of the sheng role type, it involves middle-aged or elderly male characters presented in a dignified light. Laosheng characters have a long three-part beard, and wear long robes. They represent a positive embodiment of moral authority, often as family or civic leaders. The Yang Family Generals, Silang Visits His Mother, Red Cliff, and Man Jiang Hong are among Kuizhi’s iconic roles.
Li Shengsu
Li is also a National First-Class Actor as well as a leading member of the Peking Opera. She specializes in qingyi roles. Qingyi roles, also called Zhengdan, represent a refined version of roles for women. Displaying high moral standards, they are often portrayed as wives or mothers, and are characterized by a high-pitched and emotional vocal technique. They are portrayed with slow, graceful movements and a restrained style of acting, and traditionally wear dark or blue robes.
Li Shengsu as Sun Shangxiang (2024):
Happy Chinese New Year Canada Tour
There are two other Canadian performances as part of the limited tour. Here are the details:
- Ottawa: February 8, 2026 at the Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe
- Montreal: February 11, 2026 at L’Olympia Theatre
- Toronto: February 13, 2026 at the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre
There are limited tickets left for the Toronto performance at the jewel-box Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre on February 13; tickets and details [HERE].
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