Costumes reveal an enduring legacy
Father and son Peking Opera masters are celebrated in an exhibition of their elaborate stage garments, Chen Nan reports.
There are also old photos of the father and son when they performed together onstage.
For example, in The Interrupted Dream, an excerpt adapted from the Kunqu Opera The Peony Pavilion, Mei Lanfang performed the leading role, the beautiful young woman Du Liniang, while Mei Baojiu played the role of Du's maid in 1956.
Mei Lanfang innovatively penned and refined new scripts, revitalized traditional Peking Opera performances and drew inspiration from various classical Chinese opera genres.
Influenced by the 600-year-old Kunqu Opera, Mei Lanfang absorbed key elements from this art form. In 1960, he collaborated with the Beijing Film Studio to produce a cinematic adaptation of The Interrupted Dream.
Qin notes that the exhibition is part of the ongoing celebration of the 130th anniversary of the birth of Mei Lanfang and the 90th anniversary of Mei Baojiu's birth. Since March, the company has staged over 60 shows in more than 10 Chinese cities.
The company began preparing this exhibition in May 2023 and selected the exhibits from more than 80 costumes.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition took place at the NCPA on Oct 22, the date of Mei Lanfang's birth.
