A wise king who values his people, pursues peace and stability, and demonstrates the communal spirit of the Chinese national identity is the subject of a newly-adapted Peking opera from the China National Peking Opera Company.
Following its premiere in Beijing, Cession for Consolidation of the Song Regime is set to transfer to Hong Kong in June, retaining cast members such as Yu Kuizhi, who is widely acknowledged as "China's No 1 laosheng (old male role)", and Li Shengsu, a celebrated qingyi (virtuous female role) artist, who will star alongside him.
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The production, which took two years to create, tells the story of Qian Chu, the king of Wuyue during the late Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) period, highlighting his virtues of adapting to the historical trends and pledging allegiance to the rightful ruler.
Other classics, including The Legend of the White Snake, A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass are also among the company's three-day tour of Hong Kong.
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The protagonist role – Bai (White) – from The Legend of the White Snake will be shared by Li Shengsu and her student, an outstanding young performer Zhu Hong, demonstrating the commitment to passing on, preserving, and promoting the artistry of Peking opera.
The performances will take place at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, with lyrics and dialogues accompanied by Chinese and English subtitles.
In addition, a showcase of Peking opera will be held on June 22 at 3:30 pm at the Foyer of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Zhang Xinxin and Wang Xuesong, from the China National Peking Opera Company, will perform extracts of Chasing the Boat on the Autumn River. Admission is free for this performance.
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The series of programs serves as the opening event for the 13th Chinese Opera Festival and is part of the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month 2025.
