Kunqu Opera: The Dream of the Straw Bridge
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11.28
Friday
20:00
11.30
Sunday
14:30
Price
￥280-￥580
About the Performance
Producer: Gu Haohao
Original Work: (Yuan Dynasty) Wang Shifu
Adaptation: Lu Guanshan
Director: Ni Guangjin
Lead Performer: Li An
About the Production:
Dream at the Grass Bridge, an experimental Kunqu opera adapted from Wang Shifu’s Yuan Dynasty classic The Romance of the West Chamber, deconstructs and reimagines the original while retaining its core love story. Performed entirely as a monologue by the male lead Zhang Sheng, the production demands exceptional virtuosity as a single actor embodies all roles—singing, reciting, acting, and martial movements—while conveying the full spectrum of human emotions.
A distinctive feature of this work is its consistent use of Northern-style melodies throughout the performance. Another highlight is the integration of the traditional orchestra into the drama: musicians occasionally assume characters or deliver lines, blurring the boundary between accompaniment and narrative. The instrumental arrangement maintains the rigorous structure of classical aria forms while incorporating contemporary musical elements, creating a sound that is both traditional and innovative.
Artists
Li An
National First-Class Performer of Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe
No data available
Program
Synopsis of Dream at the Grass Bridge
In late autumn, after bidding farewell to Cui Yingying at the Long Pavilion, Zhang Sheng spends the night at the Grass Bridge Inn. Drifting in and out of consciousness, he envisions Yingying fleeing to him alone, only to be captured by soldiers… In his chaotic dream, Zhang relives his first encounter with Yingying at the Pujiu Temple in spring, confessing his love through the moonlight melodies of his zither on a summer night, and their poignant farewell at the Long Pavilion in autumn. Waking to a desolate moonlit night, he finds no trace of Yingying—only the shattering realization that his dream has ended, and a thousand unspoken longing remain trapped in his heart.