Presenter: Peking Opera House of Beijing

Lead Cast: Chi Xiaoqiu, Zhang Liyuan, Xu Mengke, Lang Shilin, Du Zhe, Shen Wenli, Mu Yu, Mei Qingyang, etc.

Venue: Theatre

Dates: Jan. 27, 2010　19:30

Price: VIP　400　300　200　120　80 RMB

Programme Introduction

In 1940, playwright Weng Ouhong finished Suo Lin Purse commissioned by Peking Opera maestro Cheng Yanqiu; in May, it was premiered by Maestro Cheng and his companions in Shanghai Gold Theater. The debut was highly hailed as the representative work of Peking Opera Cheng School. Suo Lin Purse is in old times the present a mother giving to her daughter on her wedding day. The traditional opera depicts a moving story that is originated by the Suo Lin purse and embodies the goodness and love of the world. In the story the heroine Xue Xiangling, who was once a lady from a rich family, becomes a handmaid, which renders the public's deep introspect: poorness and richness is not fixed, and disaster is also a kind of treasure to life. People should forget hatred, avoid arrogance, pursue independence, correct bad temperament, stop mourning for the past, pluck up and work hard for a better life.

The artistic success of Suo Lin Purse not only comes from the integrated, elegant and novel arias and complicated performances but also comes from the fact that it portrays an extraordinary character, Xue Xiangling, who is sympathetic to the poor and generously gives her own belongings to the poor. The profile of this character deeply touches the public's heart and greatly strengthens the opera's artistic appeal.

Synopsis According to Chinese traditional custom, Suo Lin purse (a lucky purse) is sent by a mother to her daughter as a wedding gift. The Peking Opera Suo Lin Purse is a complicated but touched story about such a lucky purse, which shows love and goodness in the world. Here is the story. Xue Xiangling came from a rich family in Dengzhou, Shandong province. On the eve of her wedding, Xue's mother gave her a lucky purse which signified her good wishes for the newly-weds. On that big day, Xue came across a rainstorm on her way to the groom's house and sheltered from the rain with her maids and servants in Chunqiu Pavilion. There she met a poor girl Zhao Shouzhen who was also a new bride. Zhao wept with sorrow, thinking of her gloomy and poor life. Xue comforted her and gave her the lucky purse. When the rain stopped, they parted and took their own way. Later Dengzhou was flooded, which made Xue lose touch with her family. She had to become a maid of Gentleman Lu's family. One day when she accompanied Lu's son to play a game, she found her lucky purse in an attic. It turned out that her mistress was just Zhao Shouzhen. Zhao was full of gratitude for her and treated her as a distinguished guest. Finally, with Zhao's help, Xue managed to reunite with her family.