Peking Opera Theater First Troupe recruits Taiwanese Chineses Opera fans

Starting Tuesday next week, China's best Peking opera troupe is going to give a boost to this traditional Chinese theatrical form in Taiwan, with performances at the National Theater and lectures at local high school campuses.

The 70-person Peking Opera Theater First Troupe (中國京劇院一團) will, in one week, present 12 Peking operas. And from the opera troupe's strong showing at many ticket offices so far, the organizer Ars Formosa Company (傳大藝術) is expecting to sell out at all of its shows.

Meanwhile, the internationally renown troupe master Yu Kui-zhi (于魁智) is taking this opportunity to pay visits to senior high schools, which have organized their own Peking opera clubs, such as Chieh-Kuo Senior High School (建中), Zhongshan Girls High School (中山女高), Jingmei Girls High School (景美女高) and National Acrobats of Taiwan (戲專).

"Peking opera has a long history of over 200 years. Yet, it needs to constantly recruit young audiences in order to pass on opera's great heritage and tradition forever," Yu said at a press conference earlier this week.

China Peking Opera Theater was set up in 1955 and Mei Lanfang (梅蘭芳) was its first president. It has just undergone a re-organization this year -- its 50th anniversary -- and has successfully brought together a galaxy of opera stars to form the troupe, the only national-class group in China.

In addition to Yu, who comes from the Yu-Yang School (余、楊派), other master-class performers are: Li Sheng-su (李勝素) from Mei School (梅派), Li Hai-yan (李海燕) from Cheng School (程派), Guan Bo (管波) from the Xun School (荀派).

The theater group has performed in the US, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Australia, the former Soviet Union, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The SARS epidemic prevented the troupe from visiting Taiwan two years ago.

Among the 12 upcoming operas are: Princess Mei (梅妃) led by Li Hai-yan, Nymph of River Lo (洛神) by Li Su-sheng, Mouth of River Jiu (九江口) by Jiang Qi-hu (江其虎) and Yang Chi (楊赤), and Shi Xiu Scouts the Manor (石秀探莊) by Li Lei (李磊). They are all masterpieces and deserve Taiwan fans' special attention.

Performance notes:

China's Peking Opera Theater (中國京劇院名角名劇大匯演)

When: Dec. 20 to 23 at 7:30pm; Dec. 24 and 25 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm

Where: National Theater at 21-1, Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei (台北市中山南路21-1號國家戲劇院)

Tickets: NT$300 to NT$2,000

Call: (02)2771 5676

Website: www.arsformosa.com.tw