Yu Kuizhi
National Class One Performer. Yu Kuizhi is currently the Vice President and Artistic Adviser of the China National Peking Opera Company, and the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Dramatists’ Association. He is honoured as the “Number One Old Male Role Performer in China”. A protégé of predecessor artists include Huang Yunpeng, Yang Yuanyong, Ye Peng, Li Shilin, Wang Shixu, He Jinhai, Kong Yan, Liu Fusheng, Li Mingsheng, Yu Yuanjun, Zhu Yuankun, etc. Between 2001 and 2010, he served as the Director of the First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company. Won the 7th Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre (1989), the Mei Lanfang Gold Award (1993) and the Wenhua Performance Award (2010).
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Li Shengsu
National Class One Performer and currently the Director of the First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company, Li Shengsu won the 13th Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre (1995). She was the Director of the Mei Lanfang Youth Peking Opera Troupe of the Peking Opera Theatre of Shanxi. Her voice is clear and sweet and she is good with both civil and military roles, rendering her the most brilliant character of the Mei stylistic school of contemporary times.
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Yang Chi (Guest)
National Class One Performer, specialises in hualian (painted face) roles. Yang Chi is currently the Director of the Dalian Peking Opera Theatre. In 1982, he became a protégé of famous Peking Opera artist Yuan Shihai. His full and rigorous voice and adept acting skills render him suitable for both civil and military roles. A winner of the 8th Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre (1991); the Mei Lanfang Gold Award (1994); the 9th Wenhua Performance Award of the Ministry of Culture (2000); the Lead Actor Award at the 12th Shanghai White Magnolia Awards for Theatrical Art (2002).
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Jiang Qihu
National Class One Performer, specialises in xiaosheng (young male) roles. Jiang Qihu is currently the Executive Vice Director of the Second Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company. He is a protégé of the famous Peking Opera artist Ye Shaolan, and follows the Ye stylistic school. He is also a protégé of Jiang Shiyu, Bi Gaoxiu, Li Debin, Li Jinhong, Qu Yongxu, Xiao Runde, Xia Rongquan, etc. Jiang Qihu’s voice is naturally mellow and full, with adept performance skills he is good with both civil and military roles. His representing repertoires include Congregation of the Heros, Lu Bu and Diao Chan, The Eight Mallets, Chastising the Nephew and Visiting the Grave, The Number One Scholar Zhang Xie , etc.
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Zhang Jing
National Class One Performer, specialises in laodan (old female) roles, Zhang Jing has learnt from famous Peking Opera artists and educationalists Wang Yumin and Kong Yan, and was taught personally by famous artists Wang Jinghua, Li Mingyan, Zhang Lan, etc. Her sweet and loud voice has won her the Outstanding Award in the 5th Chinese Arts Festival and the Excellent Performance Award of the Ministry of Culture’s Drama Showcase.
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Wang Yue
National Class One Performer and a protégé of Li Changchun. Wang Yue’s representative repertoires include Subduing the Five Powers, Chisang Town, Executing Chen Shimei, Yao Qi, Trilogy of the Dragon and Phoenix Pavilion, Li Kui Visits his Mother, etc. A winner of the Performance Award in the 12th Shanxi Apricot Blossoms Award (2009) and the Class One Performance Award (Excerpt) in the All China Accreditation Showcase of Outstanding Young Performers in Peking Opera (2012).
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Chen Guosen
National Class One Performer, specialises in chou (comic) roles and has been taught by Wang Ronghan, Niu Biao, Kou Chunhua, etc. He has played main roles in such repertoires as Visiting the Graves, The Young Cowherd, Su San Qi Jie, Chuncao Barging into the Courtroom, Autumn River, The Fisherman, Liansheng Guesthouse, etc.
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Liu Kuikui
National Class One Performer who graduated from the Shenyang Academy of Arts, Liu has learnt the performing skills of painted face roles of tongchui and jiazi from Chang Minggui, Zhao Shipu, Jing Changsheng, Wang Qingyuan, Zhu Deming, etc. In 2012, Liu became a protégé of Yang Chi, who is the famous heir of Yuan stylistic school of hualian roles. Won the Gold Award (Painted Face) in the All China Television Grand Prix for Young Peking Opera Performers in 2005.
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Ma Xiangfei
National Class One Performer specialising in laosheng roles, Ma Xiangfei became a protégé of famous educationalist Ye Peng in 2010. He has performed in such repertoires as Taking Tiger Mountain by Stratagem, The Fourth Son, The Golden Terrace, Castigating Cao Cao in the World of the Living and the Dead, The Wandering Dragon Toys with the Phoenix, A Trilogy of The Three Kingdoms – A Northern Expedition by Zhu Geliang, etc. and won an award in the All China Accreditation Showcase of Outstanding Young Performers in Peking Opera in 2000.
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Li Wenying
Outstanding young performer who graduated from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and specialises in qingyi (virtuous female) roles of the Cheng stylistic school, Li Wenying has been taught by Zhang Manling, Chen Qi, Li Wenmin, Zhong Rong, Zhang Huoding, Wang Xiaoyan, Zhang Lili, etc. to learn such repertoires as A Spring Dream in the Boudoir, Tears of Barren Hill, The Unicorn Pouch, Castigation from a Former Empress, Snow in Summer, etc.
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Song Yixuan
National Class Two Performer who has been taught by Xu Ruoying, Zhang Yijuan, Chen Guowei, Song Danju, Qiao Cuirong, etc., Song Yixuan’s pretty appearance and a clear, sweet voice made her an all-rounded excellent young performer in young female roles.
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Zhu Hong
Outstanding young performer specialising in qingyi and huashan (flower-robed female) roles of the Mei stylistic school, Zhu Hong graduated from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, and has been taught by Li Yutang, Zhang Zheng, Wang Zhiyi, Ma Xiaoman, Li Weikang, Liu Xiurong, Chen Shufang, Wang Xiaoyan, Ma Shuai, Ma Hairong, etc. to learn such repertoires as The Cosmo Sword, Xue Pinggui Testing His Wife, Xishi, Mu Guiying Takes Up the General’s Seal, etc.
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Liu Mengjiao
Outstanding young performer specialising in qingyi roles of the Zhang stylistic school, Liu Mengjiao graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy and has been taught by Zhang Ping, Qin Yan, Chen Xiaoyan, Zhao Qun, Zhou Baisui, etc. to learn such repertoires as Qin Xianglian, Pavilion of Spring and Autumn, Riverside Pavilion, Red-maned Steed, etc. Won in 2010 the Bronze Award of the 1st Drama Academy Television Competition.
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Lu Yaoyao
Specialises in qingyi roles of the Cheng stylistic school. Graduate of the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. Lu Yaoyao has been taught by Chen Qi and Zhang Manling, etc. The repertoires in which she performed include The Red-Maned Steed, The Incarceration of Su San, Fen River Bay, The Unicorn Pouch, etc.
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