Shangdang Prefecture, located atop the Taihang Mountains, is the birthplace of Shangdang Bangzi Opera, one of the four Bangzi Opera genres of Shanxi Province. Shaped by this distinctive landscape, it developed a rich repertoire based on the saga of the loyal Yang generals of the Song dynasty, marked by clear moral contrasts, impassioned singing, and bold, resonant music. On its Hong Kong debut, the troupe will be presenting the classic The Banquet at Sanguan, portraying Dowager She’s tragic decision to place justice above blood ties. Selected excerpts recount emotional conflicts between loyalty, filial piety, love for one’s spouse, and heroic sacrifice on the battlefield. They illustrate how bravery and emotional intensity define the distinctive theatrical impact of Shangdang Bangzi Opera.

Shangdang Bangzi Opera

Shangdang Bangzi Opera is one of the four major Bangzi Opera systems of Shanxi.  It emerged in mid-17th century, and became popular in the southeastern region of Shanxi — historically known as Shangdang Prefecture.  It reached its artistic peak around the mid-19th century, and spread to Shandong and Hebei.  The singing is rooted in the banqiang (rhythmic-melodic) system, supplemented by qupai (set tune) elements.  Male and female roles share the same tonal register.  Its musical style is steady and vigorous, while the performance aesthetic is bold, impassioned and highly dynamic, marked by expansive gestures and emotional intensity.  The traditional repertoire comprises over 700 works, with a strong emphasis on historical and martial narratives, particularly stories of the generals of the patriotic Yang family and the troops under Yue Fei, reflecting Shangdang’s long-standing identity as a strategically contested region rich in cultural heritage.  In 2006, Shangdang Bangzi Opera was inscribed onto the first National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Programme Details

14/8 7:30pm

The Banquet at Sanguan

Main Cast:  Chen Suqin, Qi Suzhen / Dong Xiaoqin (as Dowager She), Zheng Fagen, Li Dan

The Banquet at Sanguan was adapted in the 1960s by Zhao Shuli from the Shangdang Bangzi Opera repertoire of Loyalty, Filial Piety, and Chaste Virtue, based on the legendary folklore Warriors of the Yang Family.  Refined through decades of staging, it has become a representative work of the genre.  While the plot shares that of Silang Visits His Mother, with Yang Silang (the Fourth Son of the Yang family) taken captive by the Liao army and marries the Liao princess, the plot takes on a totally different track when the son sees his mother, Dowager She.  Instead of emphasising his predicament and filial love, he is castigated by his mother, in front of his mother-in-law, Empress Dowager Xiao, for placing personal gain above patriotic duty.  Silang’s wife, Princess Taohua dies in shame, while Silang, torn by guilt and despair, takes his own life.  The production features a cast of virtuosi, including Plum Blossom Award winner Chen Suqin, alongside Qi Suzhen and Zheng Fagen.  Their portrayals vividly capture Dowager She’s resolute righteousness, Empress Dowager Xiao’s grief over the loss of her daughter, and Silang’s inner turmoil.  Combined with the genre’s grand musical style, traditional percussion, and distinctive costume design, the performance embodies the authentic spirit of Shangdang Bangzi Opera.

15/8 7:30pm

Excerpts

To Kill His Wife
Main Cast:  Chen Suqin, Zheng Fagen

Assassinating Empress Dowager Xiao and The Great Battle from Yanmen Pass
Main Cast:  Li Dan, Li Fan, Wu Yanyan

Forced into Insanity from Incidents at the Temporary Imperial Palace
Main Cast:  Chen Suqin, Zheng Fagen, Wang Zhen

This programme features three excerpts that showcase the vocal and physical virtuosity of Shangdang Bangzi Opera.  To Kill His Wife (also known as Wu Han Kills His Wife) tells a tragic tale in which Wang Yulian sacrifices herself to uphold her husband’s greater cause.  The emotional complexity between husband and wife is conveyed almost entirely through singing, making it a celebrated example of vocal innovation within the genre.  Assassinating Empress Dowager Xiao and The Great Battle from Yanmen Pass form part of the Yang family saga and are signature works for the sheng (male) role. Yang Balang (the Eighth Son of the Yang Family), acting under Dowager She’s command, infiltrates the Liao camp to assassinate the Empress Dowager Xiao before escaping with his family.  Fast-paced and physically demanding, the scenes feature acrobatic feats such as hair-flinging, flips and splits.  Forced into Insanity from Incidents at the Temporary Imperial Palace balances singing and acting in portraying Jin Gui, a Han woman in the harem of Emperor Kangxi, who is entangled in palace intrigue.  With her child being killed, she is driven into madness.  Through powerful, soaring vocals, Chen Suqin renders Jin Gui’s psychological breakdown with striking intensity, fully revealing the overwhelming emotional force of Shangdang Bangzi Opera.