EVENT DESCRIPTION
Henan Yuediao is one of the three major Chinese opera genres in Henan Province. With a history of more than 300 years, it was inscribed onto the First National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006. Known for its distinctive vocal styles and intricate musicality, Yuediao opera is celebrated for possessing the rich artistic charm of “nine vocal tones, 18 variations, and 72 ending utterances”. The Shen School of Henan Yuediao has gained acclaim for its “Three Kingdoms” repertory, and Shen Fengmei, the founder of the Shen School, was famous for her unique portrayal of Zhuge Liang in female “xusheng” (bearded male) roles.
The “Jiang Wei Surrenders” represents the pinnacle of the Shen School. Set beyond Tianshui Pass, the play unfolds as young general Jiang Wei of the Wei dynasty outwits Zhuge Liang, causing the experienced warrior Zhao Yun to retreat in defeat, which prompts Zhuge Liang to recruit and subdue this exceptional talent. Shen Xiaomei, the heritage bearer of the Shen School and the first Yuediao performer to receive the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award, excels in portraying Zhuge Liang, the legendary strategist known for his composure in adversity, capturing his intellectual essence through nuanced singing and expressive interpretation. In this performance, Shen, together with her disciples Hu Hongbo and wenwu xiaosheng (young civil and military male) Nie Lai dynamically portraying the far-sighted leadership of old Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei’s martial prowess and inner turmoil respectively, will let audiences immerse in the “Three Kingdoms” tales.
