Xiqu

“Mourning from Qin Xuemei”
This excerpt from the traditional repertoire Qin Xuemei is heartbreaking with beautiful poignant lyrics.Qin Xuemei has been betrothed to Shang Lin since childhood. With the decline of the Shang family fortune, Qin’s father forces Lin to rescind the betrothal. Lin dies out of frustration. Hearing the news, Xuemei goes to Lin’s grave to mourn for him and unfold her inner
feelings.

“Executing His Own Son”
This excerpt is a signature piece for the xusheng role, Based on the story of the Yang Warriors in Northern Song dynasty on their unflinching loyalty to defend the country against barbarian invasion. Infuriated at learning about his son Zongbao’s act of looking for a wife in the battlefield, Commander Yang ties Zongbao up at the gate pending execution. His mother Lady She and Eighth Prince come to the camp to beg for mercy but are rejected. Mu Guiying comes to defect bringing along her troop and agrees to help them to defeat the Tianmen battle formation. Realizing the nation is more important Commander Yang releases Zongbao and asks him and Mu to lead the army to battle.

“The Fight from Close Combat with the Spears”
Also named Romance of the Spears, it is a traditional repertoire of the Ma School. Jiang Guizhi’s performance requires both strength and tenderness and the spear fight is remarkable.
Jiang Guizhi brings along her sons and grandsons to go to reunite with her husband Luo Yi at Wagang Camp but Luo refuses to recognize her for fear of causing his son Luo Cheng misunderstanding. Infuriated, Jiang challenges him to fight her in a battle. Luo is defeated and falls down from the horse. After Jiang explaining to him the turns of event, Luo finally recognizes her and reunites with the family.

“Tying up Chen Shimei and On Seeing the Emperor’s Aunt from Tale of Qin Xianglian”
The two excerpts are from the traditional Yu Opera repertoire Tale of Qin Xianglian. Judge Bao is a jing (painted face) role, known as heitou in Yu Opera. His solo singing is robust and powerful with unique vocalization. Qin Xianglian goes to the capital to find her husband Chen Shimei with her children but Chen refuses to recognize them and asks Han Qi to pursue and kill them. Escaping successfully, Qin files a suit to Judge Bao. After learning the story, Bao arrests Chen and sentences him to death. Despite the Imperial Aunt wreaking havoc at his courtroom and the Imperial Mother begging for mercy, Bao refuses to pardon Chen. Finally Chen is executed to redress the injustice.

“The Outpouring from Cheng Ying Saving the Orphan of the Zhao’s”
This excerpt is the climax of the drama with the core aria which is poignant and immensely moving. It is the classic representative piece of the Henan West Li School. To save the Zhao’s orphan, Cheng Ying has suffered a lot for sixteen years. When he learns that the Commander has returned, he goes to try to tell him the truth. Without knowing the head and tail of the matter, the Commander beats him up heavily. Bearing the pain, Cheng relates to everyone the blood and tears he has shed in the sixteen years in bringing up the Zhao’s orphan.