Xiqu

Adapted from the traditional repertoire At Qingfeng Pavilion, The Breezy Pavilion boasts of a dramatic story and a rich presentation with refined music and singing. The theme goes beyond traditional morality to focus on the characters’ destiny and emotions exposing the very depth of human nature.

Scene One Picking up the baby
On their way home from the lantern festival fair, Zhang Yuanxiu and his wife discover an abandoned baby at the Breezy Pavilion. They name him Zhang Jibao and take him home for adoption. Meanwhile, the baby’s mother, Zhou Guiying (Second Madam) is looking for her son in vain.

Scene Two Raising the boy Little
Jibao returns from school and asks Zhang and his wife about his birth parents. After being denied an answer, Jibao runs away from home. Zhang chases after him.

Scene Three Returning the son
Jibao arrives at the Breezy Pavilion and meets Zhou Guiying by chance. Zhou asks about his parents. Zhang Yuanxiu catches up and arrives at the pavilion too. He questions Zhou for her curiosity. After Zhou explained her story, Zhang painfully agrees to give up
little Jibao to let Zhou take him away.

Scene Four Searching for the son
Zhang’s wife is devastated on learning little Jibao has been taken away. She gets extremely upset and turns blind out of missing her son too much. The Zhang couple decides to leave home to go searching for their son.

Scene Five Changing
Three years later, Jibao has grown into a young man in the Xue mansion. Threatened by the force of the first madam, Jibao gradually
changes his mindset.

Scene Six Denial
Jibao gains the Top Scholar title and returns to his native town for a visit. Zhang and his wife also arrive there looking for their son while begging. Upon hearing the good news, they are delighted and try to go forth to reunite with their son. However Jibao denies
them. Zhang’s wife is infuriated and knocks herself at a pillar and dies. Zhang is devastated and dies out of despair at the unfairness of Providence.