Toyota Operating Profit Down 52 Percent

The Orphan of Zhao Family is a Chinese play from the Yuan Dynasty. In the story, the hero sacrifices his own son to save the life of the orphan of the Zhao family so that the little Zhao can later avenge the death of his family.

It is the first Chinese play translated into French to be known in Europe, and was published in 1735. Last year, Chinese director Chen Kaige adapted the story for the cinema, which was successful overseas. Now China's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) plans to bring this classical tragedy to the opera stage.

Ying ying has more.

The story of The Orphan of Zhao Family was set around the 8th to 5th century B.C. At that time, several states co-existed. Among them, there was one state called Jin. In the Jin state, there were two senior officials. One was called Zhao Dun, a loyal official to Jin. The other was Tu Angu, a military leader. The two did not get along.

In the play, Tu kills Zhao's family as well as his servants, except one person, Zhao's daughter-in-law, Zhuang Ji.

At that time, Zhuang is pregnant. She later gives birth to a son. She names him Zhao Gu, which means the orphan of Zhao's family, hoping that the son will take revenge when he grows up.

Tu wants to kill the infant. Doctor Cheng Ying, a friend of Zhao's tries to save him. He puts the infant into a kit bag and attempts to take him out of the palace. But later Tu mistakes Cheng Ying's child as the infant and kills it. Cheng Ying then swallows his grief and brings up the orphan of Zhao.　

The NCPA has achieved great success with artistic productions during the past three years. Deng Yijiang, Deputy Director of the performing centre, says they chose to adapt this story as an opera for two reasons.

"The orphan of the Zhao is a classic story in China with many artistic forms such as Peking opera, theatre and cinema. Now we'll present it as a western opera. It's an artistic exploration for us. And since the story has already been known abroad as a recent Chinese movie with the same title, we'll again bring it to foreign audiences in the future. I think it's a good way to tell a traditional story to western people in their familiar operatic language."　

Zou Jingzhi, the opera's writer says he has been planning to adapt the play for seven years.

"The story of The Orphan of the Zhao has been passed down for over three hundred years. Why it has such an enduring popularity? I think that's because it contains a noble spirit which is "lay down one's life for a just cause." This is a spirit gradually disappearing in modern society. "

China's famous composer Lei Lei wrote the music for the opera.　She created two different themes for the hero Cheng Ying. He is originally a petty citizen but fulfills his promise with his whole life and even the life of his son.

"At the beginning of the play, the music is a little funny so as to express Cheng Ying's character as small fry. When Cheng makes his promise to protect the orphan, the music becomes heavy and heroic."

Lei Lei says The Orphan of Zhao Family is a dramatic play. Many people make sacrifices to protect the orphan. She also writes a lyrical lullaby for Cheng Ying's wife, a virtuous woman who helps her husband to fulfill his promise."

The Orphan of Zhao Family will grace the NCPA stage with a limited run from June 20th to 23rd.

For CRI, I'm Yingying.