China National Peking Opera Company
Encyclopedia
The China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC), originally named the National Peking Opera Theater of China, is one of the national ensembles of performance arts directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture
of the People's Republic of China. Situated in Beijing
, it was founded in January 1955, with opera performer Mei Lanfang
as the first president in its history. The current president is Song Guanlin.
As China
's premier Peking opera organization, the CNPOC comprises celebrated performers, playwrights, directors, composers and stage designers and has accumulated some of the finest repertoire of productions ranging over the wide diversity of Peking Opera performance styles as well as innovative pioneering works. For decades, the National Peking Opera Company has devoted tremendous resources in restoring and preserving existing operatic repertoires, as well as creating new works of the highest artistic quality. The CNPOC consists of three troupes. First troupe was previously led by current vice-president of the company, the celebrated laosheng-performer Yu Kuizhi. Current head of the first troupe is Li Shengsu, second and third troupe are led by Li Haiyan and Zhang Jianguo respectively. Productions staged by these troupes are regularly screened on CCTV11 (The Chinese Central Television's channel for Chinese opera).
In the last fifty years, the CNPOC produced more than 500 traditional or new dramas with different subjects and genres. Its repertoire includes, Wild Pig Forest, Three Attacks on Zhu Village, At the Crossroad, Tale of the White Snake
, The Mouth of Jiujiang River, Sun An Dong Ben, Xie Yaohuan, Mu Guiying in Command, Monkey King
, Man Jiang Hong, The Red Lantern
, Chuncao Entering the Court, Die Lian Hua, Nightmare at the Han Palace, Royal Envoy on Thin Horse，Princess Turandot
, Lujiang River, Yi-shan Mountain and one of its most famous works, Women Generals of the Yang Family.
The China National Peking Opera Company has visited over 50 countries, such as the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Romania, the UK, Australia, and the former Soviet Union, and is a frequent performer at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since its debut at the Kennedy Center 25 years ago and has been invited to performed on several occasions as a main attraction in their programs.
Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China
The Ministry of Culture is a ministry of the government of the People's Republic of China which is responsible for culture policy and activities in the country, including managing national museums and monuments; Astroturfing and promoting government policies; promoting and protecting the arts The...
of the People's Republic of China. Situated in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, it was founded in January 1955, with opera performer Mei Lanfang
Méi Lánfang
Mei Lanfang was one of the most famous Beijing opera artists in modern history, exclusively known for his qingyi roles, a type of dan role. Méi Lánfāng is his stage name, and in Chinese it is generally considered a feminine name. His real name was Méi Lán...
as the first president in its history. The current president is Song Guanlin.
As China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
's premier Peking opera organization, the CNPOC comprises celebrated performers, playwrights, directors, composers and stage designers and has accumulated some of the finest repertoire of productions ranging over the wide diversity of Peking Opera performance styles as well as innovative pioneering works. For decades, the National Peking Opera Company has devoted tremendous resources in restoring and preserving existing operatic repertoires, as well as creating new works of the highest artistic quality. The CNPOC consists of three troupes. First troupe was previously led by current vice-president of the company, the celebrated laosheng-performer Yu Kuizhi. Current head of the first troupe is Li Shengsu, second and third troupe are led by Li Haiyan and Zhang Jianguo respectively. Productions staged by these troupes are regularly screened on CCTV11 (The Chinese Central Television's channel for Chinese opera).
In the last fifty years, the CNPOC produced more than 500 traditional or new dramas with different subjects and genres. Its repertoire includes, Wild Pig Forest, Three Attacks on Zhu Village, At the Crossroad, Tale of the White Snake
Madame White Snake
The Legend of the White Snake, also known as Madame White Snake, is a Chinese legend, which existed as oral traditions before any written compilation...
, The Mouth of Jiujiang River, Sun An Dong Ben, Xie Yaohuan, Mu Guiying in Command, Monkey King
Sun Wukong
Sun Wukong , also known as the Monkey King is a main character in the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West . In the novel, he is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices...
, Man Jiang Hong, The Red Lantern
The Red Lantern
The Red Lantern is a 1919 silent film starring Alla Nazimova and directed by Albert Capellani. It is notable today for Anna May Wong's screen debut in an uncredited role. A single solitary print survives in Europe as well as rumors of a copy at Gosfilmofond, Moscow.-Synopsis:In China, a...
, Chuncao Entering the Court, Die Lian Hua, Nightmare at the Han Palace, Royal Envoy on Thin Horse，Princess Turandot
Turandot
Turandot is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, set to a libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni.Though Puccini's first interest in the subject was based on his reading of Friedrich Schiller's adaptation of the play, his work is most nearly based on the earlier text Turandot...
, Lujiang River, Yi-shan Mountain and one of its most famous works, Women Generals of the Yang Family.
The China National Peking Opera Company has visited over 50 countries, such as the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Romania, the UK, Australia, and the former Soviet Union, and is a frequent performer at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since its debut at the Kennedy Center 25 years ago and has been invited to performed on several occasions as a main attraction in their programs.