So far I checked out only the one I was most interested in, Li Zhe’s Centipede Ridge《蜈蚣岭》. I’ve said this before, but I think this boy is more than a cute face.

Hopefully the success of his husband (2nd place) will inspire Zhao Huan. :)

1. Tang Kai
2. Wang Xilong
3. Sun Liang
4. Li Zhe
5. Wei Xuelei
6. Chen Lin
7. Wang Haoqiang
8. Li Aichun
9. Wang Junpeng
10. Si Ming
11. Sun Xun
12. Yang Cheng
13. Song Bailong

Event’s main page: [2012 CCTV Jingju Contest]
Video page: http://tv.cntv.cn/videoset/C38372

Wudan semifinals, both days: [PART1] | [PART2] | [PART3]

Laodan and wudan jury is the same.

Day 1, 2012-07-15

Day 2, 2012-07-16

Jury:

Guo Yuejin (郭跃进), Wang Yuzhen (王玉珍), Zhao Jingbo (赵景勃), Wang Jinghua (王晶华), Niu Piao (钮骠), Wang Mengyun (王梦云), Zhang Guanzheng (张关正), Li Jingwen (李静文), Ai Jinmei (艾金梅)

Leaderboard:

Event’s main page: [2012 CCTV Jingju Contest]
Video page: http://tv.cntv.cn/videoset/C38372

Wusheng semifinals: [PART1] | [PART2] | [PART3] | [PART4] | [PART5] | [PART6]

I favor Li Zhe and Chen Lin, they snagged fourth and first place, respectively. Yay!

2012-07-06

2012-07-07

2012-07-08

Jury:

Zhang Youlin (张幼麟), Ye Jinyuan (叶金援), Zhang Guanzheng (张关正), Li Haotian (李浩天), Niu Piao (钮骠), Zhao Jingbo (赵景勃), Gao Mukun (高牧坤), Wang Lijun (王立军), Xi Zhonglu (奚中路)

Results:

Sun Zhen 96.21 96.63 96.30 96.30 96.32 96.30 96.30 96.30 96.31 T:96.304
Sun Xun 96.64 96.79 96.61 96.67 96.31 96.68 96.76 96.80 96.70 T:96.693
Yu Yong 96.34 96.70 96.33 96.33 96.28 96.29 96.34 96.35 96.33 T:96.330
Li Aichun 96.66 96.61 96.37 96.35 96.67 96.38 96.64 96.86 96.80 T:96.590
Gong Fayi 96.32 96.65 96.31 96.32 96.34 96.32 96.31 96.34 96.30 T:96.323
Wei Xuelei 96.76 96.89 96.82 96.92 96.95 96.86 96.73 96.73 96.76 T:96.820
Wang Haoqiang 96.68 96.67 96.68 96.73 96.82 96.66 96.66 96.39 96.83 T:96.700
Tian Yunxiang 96.35 96.33 96.36 96.38 96.33 96.36 96.39 96.66 96.37 T:96.363
Si Ming 96.69 96.39.96.35 96.64 96.79 96.37 96.80 96.83 96.66 T:96.620
Yi Lin 96.33 96.34 96.39 96.36 96.89 96.70 96.36 96.38 96.73 T:96.466
Chen Lin 96.96 96.96 96.96 96.95 96.85 96.93 96.93 96.76 96.93 T:96.930
Bai Mengfei 96.31 96.72 96.34 96.31 96.65 96.34 96.33 96.31 96.38 T:96.380
Song Bailong 96.38 96.38 96.70 96.65 96.75 96.96 96.68 96.96 96.39 T:96.644
Sun Liang 96.82 96.82 96.72 96.89 96.36 96.73 96.86 96.36 96.90 T:96.743
Yang Cheng 96.37 96.37 96.66 96.79 96.39 96.90 96.38 96.33 96.68 T:96.520
Liu Pengfei 96.39 96.35 96.38 96.39 96.35 96.35 96.70 96.68 96.64 T:96.454
Xie Han 96.38 96.30 96.32 96.34 96.27 96.31 96.32 96.37 96.34 T:96.329
Li Zhe 96.86 96.85 96.86 96.85 96.38 96.83 96.83 96.61 96.36 T:96.744
Tang Kai 96.93 96.92 96.90 96.76 96.72 96.98 96.90 96.92 96.86 T:96.884
Wu Liangliang 96.79 96.32 96.64 96.61 96.37 96.39 96.35 96.64 96.35 T:96.479
Wang Xilong 96.72 96.31 96.76 96.69 96.69 96.80 96.96 96.90 96.96 T:96.739
Wang Junpeng 96.90 96.36 96.79 96.37 96.30 96.76 96.37 96.69 96.32 T:96.523

Leaderboard:

Today’s video is somewhat fan stuff – a 43 minutes long Ba Da Chui with Wang Ping in the leading role. What makes it precious is that even photos of Wang Ping as Lu Wenlong are rare as hen’s teeth, there’s a single reported copy out there on the net.

I despondently tried one more Google search today, and there it was: a full and watchable video.
Ba Da Chui is a genuine martial drama without much singing, but 13:47 was not bad at all, and I would kill to see 25:15 to 26:50 in person. (I just love to steal Bertrand’s phrases.) And 28:10 to 31:15. And that lance-spinning on one finger around 34:55. The happy twin spear twirling at 39:50 is also memorable.

Wang Ping does not go to such extremes in wrapping his legs around his neck as Jin Xiquan did in the 2004 video I posted earlier, but nor is he in his 20s here. Let’s see, if the video is from 1996, then he’s… 42. That much?! This play is for folks in their 20s, really.

Summary: This man has style. I love him.

京剧《八大锤》Ba Da Chui (The Battle of Zhuxianzhen)  [DOWNLOAD] 95MB

I checked out the uploader’s other videos, and found even more yumyum, for example a full “hongzong” (Red-maned Fiery Steed) by the Tianjin troupe, staged in Taiwan – and it’s not the ye’ olde Bie Yao – Wujiapo – Da Deng Dian composition, but four acts from “Xue’s 8″:

Bie Yao (Pinggui Leaves Home) and Wu Mao San Da (Pinggui Gets Punished) with Wang Ping; Wujiapo (The Wujia Slope) and Suan Junliang (Stock-taking Army Provisions) with Yang Naipeng. In the role of Wang Baochuan you can see several actresses, Li Li (李莉), Li Jingwen (李经文) and a young Zhang Ping (张萍), Princess Daizhan is impersonated by Plum Blossom winner Li Ping (李萍).

I suspect there should be a third video with Da Deng Dian since these two parts are labeled as “first” and “mid”, but I found no “last”. *sigh*

I’m quite sure I don’t have any other versions of this opera that contains Wu Mao San Da. For a military offense, Wei Hu wants to behead Pinggui, but Su Long manages to reduce the sentence to 80, then to 40 rod beatings. Ouch. Don’t worry, you don’t have to watch. They go out for that time.

You can check out this performance here @YouTube, but don’t expect some fabulous quality. Anyhow, I had fun watching Wang Ping, Li Ping and Zhang Ping, have a nice weekend all, and leave me a pingback.

…..

Oh, I almost forgot! I found something for Bertrand too! A vintage video of a short rural story with Zhang Chunhua (张春华) as Shepherd Boy and Liu Shuyun (刘淑云) as Village Girl.

京剧《小放牛》Xiao Fang Niu (Little Shepherd Boy)  [DOWNLOAD] 48MB

For my and other eMule downloaders convenience here are 4 ed2k links to a few very desirable videos:

Graduation 10th anniversary highlights performances from 2007

Classic highlights 2007-11-12 Chang’an Grand Theater:

• 唐禾香《金玉奴·棒打》Tang Hexiang - Jin Yunu
• 靳学斌《罗成叫关》Jin Xuebin - Luo Cheng Crying at the City Gate (Exactly this performance. Y.Y)
• 王玉兰《百花赠剑》Wang Yulan - Princess Baihua Gifting a Sword
• 严阵《打金砖》Yan Zhen - Hit with the Golden Brick (I’m interested in this one.)
• 李海燕《文姬归汉》Li Haiyan - Wenji Returns to her Homeland (No doubt I’ll like it.)
• 李胜素《生死恨》Li Shengsu - Sorrow Throughout Life and Death (Someone send me a copy with not Li Shengsu…) (edit: Thank you.)
• 于魁智、杨赤《将相和》 Yu Kuizhi, Yang Chi - The Minister and the General Get Reconciled

LINK 1

Laosheng classics 2007-11-13 Chang’an Grand Theater:

• 谭正岩《定军山》Tan Zhengyan – Dingjun Mountain (I could live without this one but oh well. )
• 王珮瑜《击鼓骂曹》Wang Peiyu – Beating the Drum to Scold Cao Cao (I have only a crappy quality flv with Wang Peiyu’s drumming so happiness.)
• 朱强《苏武牧羊》Zhu Qiang – Su Wu Herds Sheep (One more copy is always welcome.)
• 张克《桑园寄子》Zhang Ke – Child Abandoned in the Mulberry Garden (Good!)
• 于魁智《文昭关》Yu Kuizhi – Wenzhao Pass (No big surprises ahead.)

LINK 2

Wuxi special 2007-12-16 Zhonghua Theater Tianjin:

• 石晓亮《打瓜园》Shi Xiaoliang – Fight in the Melon Garden (I’ve seen this one. Hilarious.)
• 常东、奚中路、黄齐峰、田磊《挑滑车》Chang Dong, Xi Zhonglu, Huang Qifeng, Tian Lei - Overturning the War Chariots ()
• 王平、田磊、李静文《八仙过海》Wang Ping, Tian Lei, Li Jingwen - Eight Immortals Cross the Ocean ()

LINK 3 | LINK 4

…but I can’t resist. (Actually I just make posts so that I can procrastinate finishing my tax return and don’t have to face how financially unproductive I was last year.)

One long strip with Da Jinzhuan. One with The Battle of Weinan.
Li Baochun and Tian Lei. Be still, my beating heart!
 

Videos of the trunk sealing performance, aired yesterday, appeared online surprisingly fast.

Downloads:
CNTV: [1] | [2]
ed2k: [COPY]

(1)《戏迷家庭六》Sixth edition of the Family of Theater Fans show.

Year of the Dragon is close, so the theme was Long Feng Cheng Xiang (The Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix). Last year Wang Yan was playing the flute in bunny mask, this year we could enjoy Zhu Qiang as Empress Dowager.

An interesting part is at 11:28, Zhu Shihui (朱世慧), famous chou is singing Qi school excerpt, I liked that. At 15:12, Xu Mengke is doing the same – well, obviously Zhu Shihui has much more stage experience.

Zhu Shihui excels, but the Dowager falls asleep

Wusheng Chang Dong’s (常东) scene starting at 19:25 was entertaining. After the strict security check, he’s informing the Dowager about the happenings by performing some spectacular spear action.

An Ping and Li Hong’s Chisangzhen in reversed setup was interesting, however, I’m happy both of them stick to their original profession. By the way, if it weren’t written there, I would have never figured out it’s Li Hong under the Bao make-up.

Snatching the wig of an elderly lady isn’t a good idea whatsoever

After Song Xiaochuan and Bao Fei’s Tale of the White Snake excerpt Shi Yihong was singing Shaoxing opera Prince of the Desert – she surely won’t be a rival for Wang Junan or Zhao Zhigang, but wasn’t bad at all.

This show always has a “guest star”, last year Ye Shaolan was invited, this year Zhang Xuejin came surrounded by disciples. Their little “orchestra” was really cute, Zhang Xuejin and Song Haoyu were playing qin, Mu Yu debuted as drummer, Gao Tong and Zhao Hua as gong and cymbal players. They accompanied Mei school qingyis Zhang Xinyue and Wang Yi, who performed a Ma school laosheng excerpt: I liked them both! (Starts around 44:35.)

Zhang Xuejin is still handsome. Mu Yu gained weight (again).

Scene of the “five laosheng Sun Shangxiang” was a real surprise.
I thought that Fu Xiru, who has a comparatively high pitched voice, will excel, but actually he was the weakest link with his shot at Cheng school singing.
Du Zhe wasn’t feminine in his movement, but his singing was very nice, stylish.
I liked Yang Shaopeng too! Without costume, there’s nothing in that boy that even shallowly resembles a girl, yet he was a pretty Shangxiang with a really good voice.

My favorite of the five was undoubtedly Ling Ke! Delicate, beautiful, subtle.

Tianjin’s young laosheng Ling Ke - pretty!

After one hour, Shang Changrong made his appearance with giant calligraphy brush. After painting a scroll he performed an excerpt from one of his childhood favorites, Liu Baoquan’s (刘宝全) jingyun dagu Da Xixiang (大西厢).
As a special highlight, Ouyang Zhongshi appeared on the screen and painted a traditional “dragon” character live.

龍

After some happy audience singing, the show ends.

(2) 京剧《大白水滩》Big White Water Beach

Next program was the long edition of jingju White Water Beach, with lots of martial action and handsome wusheng boys. Everything goes in order until 58:30 (second video)…. I don’t want to spoil the fun, so I just tell you if you’re fond of Latino rhythms, you surely will like the next two minutes.

Supersexy Feng Yun seduces the attractive executioner…

Today’s Theater in the Air will be extra fine, and starts in 10 minutes. You can watch it on CBox if you wish, but I surely will upload it later.

Mei Lanfang Grand Theater, Beijing
2011/11/26

京剧《扈家庄》 冯蕴、徐孟珂 - Hu Jia Zhuang (Manor of the Hu Family) (Feng Yun, Xu Mengke)
京剧《樊江关》 常秋月、丁晓君 – Fanjiang Guan (Fanjiang Pass) (Chang Qiuyue, Ding Xiaojun)
京剧《游龙戏凤》 董圆圆、朱强 – You Long Xi Feng (Emperor Zhengde Meets Li Feng) (Dong Yuanyuan, Zhu Qiang)

You can watch an audience recording of the full You Long Xi Feng here, it was highly entertaining! I was laughing my pants off at these two. Very lovely, cute play. I promise I’ll write a detailed summary to this one.

Photos: [MLF20111126_youlongxifeng.rar] | [MLF20111126_hujiazhuang.rar]

“Lookie, I’m the Emperor in disguise!”   “Wheee…”

Feng Yun – Check the photo set. Beautiful.

Feng Yun really likes pumps.

Xu Mengke has a few faces. He appears as a little clownish-looking figure here, three days later he plays Mei Xiang in The Unicorn Purse…

Now it’s not because I have a crush on the guy. Jin Xiquan’s Ba Da Chui is really jaw-dropping. Watch it by any means.

And don’t forget: the performer has be playful and smile as a youngster all along…

Download:
: [Badachui_Jin_Xiquan.mp4] 181MB
京剧《八大锤》Ba Da Chui (The Battle of Zhuxianzhen)
Jin Xiquan (金喜全), Li Dacheng (李达成)
2004, Shanghai

Yesterday evening the final results of the 2011 “Charming Spring” wuxi competition were announced.

Zhan Lei got the most votes from the jury and the audience, the runner-ups are Zhang Shujing and Wei Xuelei.

Congrats to all of them!

Source: YNET Entertainment