Love and Loyalty
(or Fourth Son Visits His Mother)

performer: Ms. Ju-Hua Wei

Ms. Ju-Hua Wei playing Yang Zongbao in Silang Tan Mu

Courtesy of Jo-Hua Wei

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This segment, Patrolling the Camp, is selected from the play, Love and Loyalty (Silang Visits His Mother).

The story is based on the warfare between the Song Dynasty of China and the Liao kindom to its north in the late tenth century. General Yang Ji-ye and his eight sons fought for the safety of the Song emperor. However, most of the Yang family generals were killed in the war, and the fourth son (Silang) was captured by the Liao. Silang hid his Yang identity and later married the princess of Liao.

Fifteen years passed and Silang and the princess were happily married and had a son.

One day Silang learned that his mother and sixth brother led the Song army and were camped nearby preparing for an attack on the Liao. His love for his mother drew him to visit her with the help of the princesss. Yang Zongbao, the son of Silang’s sixth brother, was the one on patrol when Silang rushed into the Song camp. This segment expresses the bravery of this 16-year-old general with a distinguished aria sung in the wa-wa-diao style.

[sing]
I have received father's command;
I'm to patrol the whole camp.

[speak]
I, Yang Zongbao, on my father's orders, patrol the camp. Soldiers, hear my command!

[sing]
Yang Zongbao, on horse back transmits orders to our men.
I call on all soldiers to carefully attend.
That bandit (Xiao Tian-Zuo) unprovoked a great force has amassed;
She wants to conquer our splendid home land.
From all sides comes the sound of their house bells;
Soldiers, stretch ropes to trip them.

(Translation copyright by Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak, 1998)

[Chinese version is also available: Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese]

Drunken Concubine (or Drunken Beauty, Dunken Empress)

Performer: Ms. Hui-Mei Chang

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This story takes place in the Tang Dynasty around 745-755 AD.

Yang Yuhuan was Emperor Ming Huang’s favorite concubine.

One evening the two had arranged to meet in the imperial gardens after the Emperor was off duty. Yang prepared a banquet and was waiting for him. But the Emporor failed to keep his promise and went to see one of his other concubines. Furious and depressed, Yang decided to have the banquet alone. She drank too much and gradually became drunk. Finally she staggered back to her chamber, helped by her maids.

The lyrics of the aria is available: Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese.

Homecoming of a Phoenix
(or Phoenix Returns to Its Nest)

Performed by Ms. Mei-Jia Xie

Homecoming of a Phoenix is a classical Chinese Opera displaying a wide range of caricatures and presenting a considerable number of very popular arias.

The story is about the eventual marriages of two sisters through a rather troublesome course of development. In spite of the dark schemes and tricks played by the biased mother and a selfish dandy, the homely silly girl is matched with the vulgar, ugly and later penniless fop, while the other virtuous pretty maiden eventually marries the bright handsome young scholar.

The philosophy behind this drama is very well expressed by the leading lady as follows:

Everything is disposed by God. Fate can never be changed by and plot!

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Maybe I ought to leave with you to flee,
but 'tis not the right way a girl should be.
'Tis awkward to meet the Count especially,
for he's earned a bad name, --- please believe me!

Last time he came to trick me,
you fooled him instead, luckily.
Now if I go and his guest be,
why would he let me live peacefully?

Mother, please don't impose on me,
let me explain sincerely;
nothing matters more strongly
than a woman's chastity.
Living with no integrity,
one's life is not worth a penny!

Bandits are men who're hungry,
They want to loot goods and money.
If they're sated with booty,
perhaps they will have some sympathy.
Should I survive this calamity,
when you come home, you'd find me;
If I should get killed eventually,
at least it wouldn't shame my Daddy!
Let me stay home peacefully,
I'm prepared to welcome a calm death with purity!

(from the book Homecoming of a Phoenix, copyright 1976 by Sophia Shang Kuan Min)

[Chinese version is also available: Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese]

The Performers

Ms. Ju-Hua Wei is presently working on a doctorate in ethnomusicology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She became interested in theatrical music during her undergraduate studies in piano performance at the National Institute of Arts in Taipei, the Republic of China. She is the recipient of the 1995/96 and 1998/99 Diamond Head Theatre Burnett/Selleck Scholarship. In Fall 1998, Ms. Wei conducted research on Beijing Opera music, funded by the Chun Ku and Soo Yong Huang Foundation Graduate

Ms. Hui-mei Chang is pursuing an MFA degree in the Asian Performance program of the Theatre and Dance Department at University of Hawaii at Manoa. She came here from the Twin Cities, MN and was an active actress, choreographer, and dancer.

The Orchestra

Chinese Opera Association of Hawaii

Established in Honolulu in 1978, the Chinese Opera Association of Hawaii, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 1998. This association was originally initiated and founded by a handful of Beijing Opera fans in Honolulu. For the last two decades, this association has witnessed an expansion in membership to nearly 40 people. It has been attracting veteran Beijing Opera enthusiasts and the beginners with interest in this unique art form of China.

In the recent years, the association has been playing a more active role in community services. Under the leadership of Ms. Jessie Cheng, president of 1995 and 1996, and Ms. Hsiao-yun Tso. Lo, president for 1997 and 1998, the association presented Beijing Opera performances on numerous social occasions and charity events, such as the Annual Hai-Hwa Cultural Festival for Overseas Chinese, the Annual East-West Center International Festival, and the Annual Senior Citizen Entertainment Day. Between 1996 and 1997, the association was invited to perform on the Annual Make Music Festival jointly sponsored by Honolulu City and County and French Association. All of the performances received warm welcome and press comments for the excellence in singing, dialogue, and acting, in addition to the exquisite costumes, beautiful make-up and joyful music.

Besides the social occasions and charity events, the association has also organized several major Beijing Opera Entertainment Nights performing some of the best-known Beijing Opera plays. The plays or highlights performed by the members included: The Drunken Beauty (Guifei Zuijiu); Silang Visiting his Mother (Silang Tanmu); Farewell, My Concubine (Bawang bieji ); Mu Guiying Takes Command (Mu Guiying Guashuai); The Romance of the White Snake (Baishe zhuan); Jade Hall of Spring (Susan qijie); The Match of Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu pei); Beauty Defies Tyranny (Yuzhoufeng), just to name a few.

The members of the association meet regularly on Saturday afternoon (2:00-5:00 p.m.) in the Service Center for Overseas Chinese (Chinese Cultural Plaza, 100 North King Street, Suite 302). The weekly gathering in the afternoon is for members’ singing practice and that of the orchestra. The association would encourage all who have interest in Chinese culture to visit the site on Saturdays. New membership is heartily welcomed.

Peking Opera Performance

"Drunken Concubine"

"Love and Loyalty"