On September 26 and 27, 2021, funded by the Lottery Community Chest, the China Welfare Lottery, the China Sports Lottery, and the National Arts Fund, the National Arts Fund (General Project) celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the large-scale stage drama and the theme creation of works funded by the National Arts Fund, and one of the 26 key literary and artistic works in the Beijing Stage Art Exhibition celebrating the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the modern Peking Opera "Xu Yunfeng" of the Beijing Peking Opera House was staged as the 9th China Peking Opera Arts Festival. And on September 27, 2021, the acceptance task of the National Arts Fund was successfully completed. Theater leaders accompanied relevant leaders to the scene.
Based on the novel of the same name and the Peking Opera "Red Rock" (1984 performance version) of the Beijing Opera House, the play tells the story of Xu Yunfeng, secretary of the Chongqing Underground Party Working Committee, who was betrayed when he was tasked with organizing the rescue of refugees in the Geleshan concentration camp, and after being imprisoned in the concentration camp, organized the prisoners to engage in a battle of wits with the reactionaries in prison, and finally was killed for refusing to escape from prison alone.
Over the past hundred years, the reason why the Communist Party of China has been able to rise up unceasingly through setbacks and harden into steel through hardships lies in the fact that the lofty ideals and revolutionary convictions in the hearts of tens of millions of Chinese communists have always been firm and persistent. As a Peking Opera play based on the story of the novel "Red Rock" and learning to act as a heroic communist, the whole play of "Xu Yunfeng" grasps the peking opera itself in terms of creative ideas, combines the creative concept and creative methods that are close to the times, and creates a vivid character image with a rigorous and solid realistic creative attitude and method, so that the whole play is full of heroic splendor. The cultural and humanistic characteristics of Chongqing's Sichuan-Chongqing region are integrated in many places in the play, and strive to restore the historical era more accurately, so that the audience can truly feel the heroic belief of sacrificing his life for the revolutionary cause of new China and throwing his head and spilling blood.
The modern Peking Opera "Xu Yunfeng" was successfully "cloud premiered" on June 7, 2020, which is the first time that the domestic opera theater troupe has dedicated the newly created drama to the audience in the form of cloud premiere, and the theater has demonstrated its responsibility with literary and artistic services, which has been unanimously praised by people from all walks of life and the response is very warm. Subsequently, on the basis of fully absorbing the opinions of experts and audiences, beneficial adjustments were made in many aspects such as plot, characters, music, scenes, and choreography, etc., and the processing and improvement performance was completed on May 20, 2021, and the grand performance was held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on July 20 and 21, 2021.
The two performances at the China Peking Opera Arts Festival are not only another tribute and praise for the centenary of the founding of the party, but also a spur and encouragement to the Beijing Opera House and all the cast and crew of "Xu Yunfeng". The wonderful performances of Tan Zhengyan, Du Zhenjie, Zhu Qiang, Ni Shengchun, Zhou Meihui, Meng Xianteng and Wang Qianqian make Xu Yunfeng, Xu Pengfei, Hua Ziliang, Li Jingyuan, Cheng Yao, Cheng Gang, Xiao Radish Head and other characters travel through time and space, three-dimensional and vividly presented on the Peking Opera stage, jumping in front of the audience.
In the play, Xu Yunfeng's many performances, such as the "zombie" when he was tortured and fainted, the techniques of "hanging the pillar of the oolong" and "lifting and jumping" after being whipped, not only enriched the wonderful degree of the scene to a great extent, but also showed the great ideals, beliefs, and persistent pursuit of the communists represented by "Xu Yunfeng" who are not afraid of strong enemies, unyielding, and courageous sacrifice, as well as the lofty integrity and fiery enthusiasm of sacrificing their lives for righteousness, which deeply infected groups of audiences.
"Xu Yunfeng" is not only a gift to the party, but also an encouragement to future generations. Xu Yunfeng, who regards death as a homecoming, Hua Ziliang, who endures humiliation and bears heavy burdens, and Cheng Gang, who is mighty and indomitable, are the epitome of the heroes of the times and the models of the youth of the new era. The significance of this play is not only to let us learn to be grateful for the beautiful life that the party has led everyone to create, but also to inspire us to forge ahead - to bravely assume responsibility in the new era and seek rejuvenation and development for the country. A student from the School of Advanced Translation of The University of Foreign Chinese in Beijing said.
Another of the Beijing Opera House's performances at this year's Peking Opera Festival, the new modern Peking Opera "Li Dazhao", will land at the Beijing Poly Theater on October 1 and 2, 2021. During the National Day "Tenth Day" period, the theater will also actively respond to the call of "big drama to see Beijing" and dedicate 42 consecutive good plays to the vast number of opera fans and audiences, in order to let the audience and friends enjoy the essence and charm of Peking Opera art, enjoy the opera addiction during the holiday, and use practical actions to present the party's centennial birthday and the 72nd anniversary of the National Day.