The Kunqu opera "Sima Xiangru" will be staged at the Yifu Theatre on February 7-9 by Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe. The opera tells the love story of Sima Xiangru and Zhuo Wenjun, who lived 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-AD24).
Young widow Zhuo, who is temporarily staying at her own parents' home, falls in love with a poor but talented scholar named Sima after he plays a love tune, "Phoenix Wooing," to test her. On the same night Zhuo flees her parents to join him in Chengdu.
In their earlier years, the couple have to sell wine in the market to make a living. Later Sima is favored by the emperor and their life greatly improves.
The play portrays the ups and downs of Sima, bringing the audience insight into the often-dramatic fate of intellectuals in ancient China. Kunqu opera holds a very special place among the opera genres of China.
The opera has been around China for more than 400 years, impacting many other genres of folk opera. With melodies and lyrics recognized as more graceful and refined than those of the Peking opera, the traditional repertoires of Kunju are masterpieces of Chinese classical drama.
Today, this vintage opera sees few new additions to its repertoire, however the Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe is trying to make a breakthrough, adding their own creation to the established catalogue of stories.
The play "Sima Xiangru" has won several national awards since 1995. Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe will introduce a group of young artists in a new round of shows this weekend.
( Shanghai Star February 9, 2002)
