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At Tianqiao Theatre in Beijing, the Opera - Yang Guifei was performed on the 2 evenings of May 30th and 31st.
Toshu Fukami performed o the firat night of May 30th, the role of Chixiong, a famous Japanese envoy to China during the Tang Dynasty.
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Act 1 "Gold - Kaiyuan, the Era of Prosperity"
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Chixiong(Toshu Fukami, right) and Zhenzi(Chinese singer, Xing Zhou) are Japanesese envoys to China during the Tang Dynasty, just arrived in the metropolis of Tang.
Chixiong says in Japanese "A loyal servant of Japan, is honored to be granted an audience" . After this one phrase, it was all Chinese.
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The Great Dynasty of Tang, under the rule of Emperor Xuan Zong, was at its height of prosperity.
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Chixiong and Zhenzi recieved approval of the Emperor Xuan Zong to study under the talented Yang Guifei, and pledge to each other to attend to their studies with diligence.
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Hearing of the death of Prime Minister Li Linfu, Emperor Xuan Zong appoints Yang Guifei's brother, Yang Guozhong(front row, first from the right)as the new Prome minister.
An Lushan(front row, first form the left) bristles up at this news.
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Act 2 "Fire - Bathing in Liyuan - garden of heaven"
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At the Liyuan within the grounds of Huaquing Palace. Emperor Xuan Zong and Chixiong(Toshu Fukami) playing the flute as Zhenzi learns the biwa Mandolin from Yang Guifei.
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Yang Guifei(Wang Yan) bathing in Huaquing hot-spring fountain.
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Emperor Xuan Zong(Fan Jingma) and
Yang Guifei whisper sweet nothings to each other.
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Act 3 "Land - Maweipo"
An Lushan rises in rebellion. Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei thunderstruck at the news of the killing of Yang Guozhong.
Tang's Army lead by Chen Xuanli is about to make a move to chastise An Lhusan.
However, before that, Yang Guifei is pressed to commit suiside under the reason that the extravagance of the Yang Family causes
the unstable ruling of the dynasty and so the axe must be laid at the roots of evil.
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"I can not lose my country nor Yang Guifei. I am the one who dorve Yang Guifei to the wall!1" Emperor Xuanzong sorrows and suffers as he hold on to Yang Guifei's hands.
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"I only know how to love....For the Tang Tynasty, for you, the Emperor, I shall travel to the other world and shall harbour no grudge."
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"Yang Guifei has commited no crime.
Was it her love towards the Emperor
that was a mistake?"
Chixiong(Toshu Fukami) and
Zhenzi asks for amnesty for yang Guifei.
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"I heaven, we shall become the pair of wings of a bird. On earth, let us stay side by side as braches of a tree."
Before the parting, the two swear their eternal love for each other. In the midst of the echoing shout of the soldiers, "Death to YangGuifei!", Yang Guifei holds on to her white silk veil as she moves closer to death.
Emperor Xuanzong, sunk in the depths of despair, is about to fall to the ground as he gazes after Yang Guifei. |
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Act 4 "Tree - An audience with the Emperor of Japan"
Chixiong(Toshu Fukami: far left) takes Yang Guifei, who escaped from death at Maweipo, to Japan for an audience with the Emperor.
Zhenzi disguised as Yang Guifei, writes Kaiyuan as a striking and consternating era in calligraphy, plays the Biwa Mandol she learnt in China as she sings of the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty
conveying her circumstances in the verse.
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The Emperor of Japan appreciated the great pains taken by Chixiong and Zhenzi and recommends that the two of them tie the knot.
However, Yang Guifei disgusied as Zhenzi reveals her real identity by declaring "I am not Zhenzi" though Chixiong tries to stop her.
The two are about to be arrested with perjury when the Emperor allows for the whole truth to be told in her presence.
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Flashback Scene: Zhenzi is told that Yang Guifei who hanged herslef with he shite silk robe at Maweipo was still breathing.
She resolves that she will sacrifies her own life to save Yang Guifei to return to her debt and kindness.
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Flash back Scene: Zhenzi tells Chixiong(Toshu Fukami) to take Yang Guifei safely to Japan as she leaves him and tells him " I will return your love when we meet in our next life"
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The Emperor who hears out the tuth, in praise of Zhenzi's nobel undertaking,
mourns her spirit. AT the same time, Yang Guifei
is warmly welcomed and told to think of Japan as her second hometown.
Chixiong and Yang Guifei, deeply thank the kindness of the Eperor
and sware eternal loyalty, not to make waste of the nobleness of Zhenzi.
Days and years have passed while Yang Guifei contiued to think of the Emperor Xuanzong, as she stands by the seashore today again, and looks over the sea to the direction of the Tang Dynasty.
Chixiong(Toshu Fukami) sings of the deep sorrow of Yang Guiffei in a long Chinese Aria.
Act 5 " Water - Unending yearning"
From a distance. a singing voice is heard carried along by the wind.
"Is that a Tang song? Has a boat from Tang arrived?"
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Chixiong and Yang Guifei asks the unexpected visitor from Tang, of any news on Emperor Xuanzong.
"The Emperor fell ill and passed away from grief of losing Yang Guifei he could not bear .
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Yang Guifei is left astound. "The Emperor Xuanzong is not in this world aymore..."
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"Now I can leave with nothing to regret. I will leave behind my true love, and will go to heaven."
Yang Guifei walkt towards the sea, silently, as she says good-bye to this world.
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