Tribute to Peking Opera master's genius

Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang specialized in nandan roles — men playing female characters.CHINA DAILY

In 1925, Mei Lanfang premiered his original work Taizhen Waizhuan (The Anecdotes of Taizhen), which was inspired by Changhen Ge (The Song of Everlasting Sorrow), a narrative poem in which Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Bai Juyi portrayed the love affair between the legendary royal concubine Yang Yuhuan of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Xuanzong. Taizhen was Yang's Taoist name as she was once a Taoist nun.

Mei Lanfang told the romantic and tragic love story of Yang and the emperor through Peking Opera. With original songs and choreography, the performance of the whole play lasted for four nights and was a great success.

A costume worn by Mei Lanfang when he played the role of Yang is displayed for the first time at the exhibition.

According to one of the curators Xiang Qian, the costume shows the creativity of Mei Lanfang. Compared to the Peking Opera costumes of the time that his father and grandfather wore, Mei Lanfang widened the sleeves and integrated the elements of shuixiu ("water sleeves") — long, white silk sleeves attached to the cuffs of female character costumes in traditional Chinese operas. Performers would dance while manipulating the sleeves to create multiple stunts, portraying the female characters' gracefulness while expressing emotions.

"Taizhen Waizhuan was rarely performed due to the large and extravagant stage setting and the large number of actors and actresses onstage. It has become one of Mei Lanfang's most celebrated works," Xiang notes.

In 1926, songs from the play were released on vinyl records. During the exhibition, when visitors stand in front of the beautiful costume, they can simultaneously hear the songs played on an old-style vinyl record.