Commemorating the 60th anniversary of
the foundation of the People’s Republic of China，

Min-On Concert Association Proudly Presents the
China National Peking Opera Company
Onstage With Their Performance of the New Production，
“The Water Margin—
the Vows of Song Jiang and the Heroes of Mount Liang Shan Po”

The Peking Opera (or Beijing Opera) has existed for more than two hundred years and has been widely regarded as the highest expression of Chinese culture. It is a form of traditional Chinese theater that combines music， vocal performance， mime， dance and acrobatics. Artistically， it is perhaps one of the most refined forms of opera in the world. The China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC) was specifically founded for promoting the Peking Opera as a national ensemble of assimilating well-known opera actors and actresses， notable writers， conductors， composers and stage artists directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China.

Min-On Concert Association introduced the China National Peking Opera Company to the Japanese audience for the first time in 2002， with their performance of “Peking Opera Omnibus” and for the second time in 2006， with the performance of “Romance of the Three Kingdoms—Zhege Kongming，” both of which achieved huge successes and drew enthusiastic applause from sold-out audiences. Since then， Min-On has collaborated with the CNPOC in producing a new work for their third Japan tour. For this upcoming tour， Min-On is very proud to present the world premiere of “The Water Margin—the Vows of Song Jiang and the Heroes of Mount Liang Shan Po，” a brand new production of the CNPOC， in thirty-three cities throughout Japan from October 7 through December 10.

“The Water Margin” (Shui hu zhuan in Chinese) is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature， and is also known as “All Men Are Brothers，” “Outlaws of the Marsh，” or “The Marshes of Mount Liang.” These folk stories describe Song Jiang and his 108 bandits， who are from diverse backgrounds among the victims of corruption and decadence toward the end of the North Song Dynasty， when it reached its apogee and then declined. These bandits gathered under the leadership of Song Jiang in the mountain fortresses of Liang shan po where surrounded by marshes and bearing the banner of “Ti tian xing dao—governing the nation instead of Heaven，” they stood up as vigilantes and made their vows to defy the imperial authority and battle against the army forces to bring salvation to the people.

The play script of “The Water Margin—the Vows of Song Jiang and the Heroes of Mount Liang Shan Po” was newly written for the Min-On Concert Association by President Wu Jiang of the CNPOC， who is one of the most renowned Chinese playwrights. The play is directed by Chang Guixiang， who is one of the most eminent directors of the Peking Opera， with his rich experiences in collaboration with Japanese “Kabuki” and “Shingeki，” modern theatrical performances， etc. All cast members are selected from among the top artists of the CNPOC， including the widely popular actor Zhao Yongwei and the first ever Japanese Peking opera actor， Yuta Ishiyama.

The characteristic human drama of “The Water Margin，” performed by sixty-four virtuosos of the CNPOC， is anticipated to be the quintessence of the Peking Opera. This fantastic form of entertainment， integrating singing， dancing， acrobatics and marshal arts， is based on the traditional Chinese theatrical performance and will surely satisfy not only opera fans but also first timers to the Peking Opera.


Title of Performance:

Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China，
the China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC) performs their new production:
“The Water Margin—the Vows of Song Jiang and the Heroes of Mount Liang Shan Po”


Performance by: The China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC)

The China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC) is one of the national ensembles of performance arts directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture， People’s Republic of China. It was founded in January 1955， with Mr. Mei Lanfang as the first president in its history. Now， Mr. Wu Jiang， a notable dramatist， is the president of the CNPOC. In the last fifty years， the CNPOC produced more than five hundred traditional or new dramas with different subjects and genres， forming its special artistic characteristics and styles with artistic strictness， fresh stage design and diversified schools. In international and national cultural activities， more than forty dramas and one hundred people won various prizes and awards. The CNPOC has the responsibility for international cultural exchange， and has had performance tours in more than fifty countries around the world， contributing to the friendship of Chinese people with people around the world and winning a good international reputation.

Organized by: The Min-On Concert Association

Produced by: The China National Peking Opera Company

Supported by: The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

Sponsored by: Lawson Ticket

Concert Schedule: From October 7 (WED) through December 10 (THU)， 2009；
A total of 33 performances in 62 different cities in Japan.

Date & Time Venue Prefecture

October
7 (WED) 14:00/18:30 Aichi Prefecture Performing Arts Theater Aichi
8 (THU) 14:00 Aichi Prefecture Performing Arts Theater Aichi
9 (FRI) 14:00/18:30 Utsunomiya City Culture Center Gunma
11 (SUN) 14:00/18:30 Himegin Hall Ehime
13 (TUE) 14:00/18:30 Alpha Anabuki Hall Kochi
14 (WED) 14:00/18:30 Hiroshima Welfare Pension Center Hiroshima
16 (FRI) 14:00/18:30 Okayama Civic Center Okayama
18 (SUN) 14:00/18:30 Kyushu Welfare Pension Center Fukuoka
20 (TUE) 14:00/18:30 Fukuoka Sun Palace Hotel & Hall Fukuoka
21 (WED) 19:00 Oita Iichiko Grand Theater Oita
22 (WED) 18:30 Shimonoseki City Civic Center Yamaguchi
25 (SUN) 14:00/18:30 Ibaragi Prefecture Civic Culture Center Ibaragi
26 (MON) 14:00/18:30 Tokyo Electron Hall Miyagi Miyagi
28 (WED) 14:00/18:30 Gunma Music Hall Gunma
29 (THU) 19:00 Aubade Hall Toyama Toyama

November
1 (SUN) 14:00 Fukushima Prefecture Culture Center Fukushima
3 (TUE) 14:00/18:30 Sapporo Welfare Pension Center Hokkaido
8 (SUN) 13:00/17:00 Ichikawa City Culture Center Chiba
9 (SUN) 18:30 Ichinomiya City Civic Center Aichi
10 (TUE) 18:30 Hokuto Culture Center Hall Nagano
12 (THU) 14:00/18:30 Act City Hamamatsu Shizuoka
13 (FRI) 14:00/18:30 Shizuoka Civic Culture Center Shizuoka
17 (TUE) 14:00/18:30 Kanagawa Prefecture Hall Kanagawa
18 (WED) 14:00/18:30 Oomiya Sonic City Hall Saitama
20 (FRI) 14:00/18:30 Niigata TERRSA Niigata
22 (SUN) 14:00 Ishikawa Welfare Pension Center Ishikawa
25 (WED) 14:00/18:30 Nakano Sun Plaza Hall Tokyo
26 (THU) 14:00/18:30 Nakano Sun Plaza Hall Tokyo
27 (FRI) 18:30 Yamanashi Prefecture Civic Culture Hall Yamanashi

December
1 (TUE) 14:00/18:30 Kobe International Center Hall Hyogo
2 (WED) 14:00/18:30 Hyogo Prefecture Arts & Culture Center Hyogo
4 (FRI) 14:00/18:30 Kyoto Community Center Hall Kyoto
6 (SUN) 14:00/18:30 Namikiri Hall Grand Theater Osaka
7 (MON) 18:30 Shimane Prefecture Civic Center Shimane
9 (WED) 14:00/18:30 Osaka Welfare Pension Center Grand Hall Osaka
10 (THU) 14:00/18:30 Osaka Welfare Pension Center Grand Hall Osaka

Admission Fee: 6，900 JYN and up (price varies according to the venue)