Album Covers for Princess Changping
1. An uploader in YouTube remarked that "[t]his is probably the most well-known excerpt from the most-watched Cantonese Opera in the world."
I concur.
I suspect there will be instant recognition if you hum a few bars of this excerpt to a Cantonese Chinese anywhere in the world.
2. The Chinese title of this Cantonese Opera is "帝女花".
"帝" = Emperor.
"女" = Daughter.
"花" = Flower.
The "Emperor's daughter" refers to in the title is Princess Changping (1629 - 1646), a daughter of the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) -- Emperor Chongzhen (1611 - 1644).
The current edition of this Cantonese opera is consisted of 8 Acts:
Act 1 -- Oath Under the Twins Tree ("樹盟")
Act 2 -- Princess' Sufferings ("香劫")
Act 3 -- Bearing For Princess' Dead Body ("乞屍"）
Act 4 -- Reunion at the Nunnery ("庵遇"）
Act 5 -- Recognizing each other ("相認"）
Act 6 -- Welcome Princess ("迎鳳"）
Act 7 -- Negotiating with the Qing Emperor ("上表"）
Act 8 -- The Fragrant Death ("香夭"）
The video excerpt is from the latter part of Act 8 -- The Fragrant Death.
3. All Cantonese operas tell stories.
The opera Princess Changping tells the tragic love story of Princess Changping which happened during the last days of the Ming Dynasty.
The story as told by this opera has some historical but many fictional elements.
In the opera, Princess Changping has already chosen her husband and was about to be married when the Qing invader entered the capital Beijing.
Her husband-to-be was Zhou Shixian.
In Act 8 of this opera, Emperor Chongzhen has already committed suicide and Princess Changping and Zhou Shixian also determined to follow suit.
But she intended to do so only after negotiating with the new Qing Emperor for the proper burial of her father and the safety of the Crown Prince.
The new Qing Emperor, unaware of Princess Changping and Zhou Shixian's intention to commit suicide, arranged for them to be married.
The scene in the video excerpt was when Princess Changping and Zhou Shixian committed suicide by drinking poison during their marriage ceremony.
4. This video excerpt is re-mastered from the 1959 film version of the opera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rgNRdbPdtg
The English subtitle is quite well done.
Princess Changping was portrayed by Bak Suet-Sin (female) and Zhou Shixian by Yum Kim-Fai (also female).
They were the original singers of this opera.
In Hong Kong, Yum Kim-Fai and Bak Suet-Sin are popularly known together as Yum / Bak.
This particular video excerpt has achieved legendary status and is considered a must see for any fans of Cantonese culture.
5. Another version of the same film clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjyX1nuHLbs
6. A performance by Yum / Bak in 1972 for a TV fundraiser after a landslide disaster in Hong Kong:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VDxQ7ZskPQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdz9FuUPyPk
The landslide disaster due to heavy rainfall happened on June 18 and the TV fundraiser was on June 24.
Many well-known Hong Kong performers appeared in this TV fundraiser, including Bruce Lee.
I actually have some memories of watching this performance on TV when it was broadcast live in 1972.
That was over 40 years ago!
If I remembered correctly, many performers only received notification in the afternoon and then they have to appear on TV the same night.
So do excuse Yum / Bak just standing there singing without any appropriate costumes.
Also, according to a YouTube comment, Yum Kim-Fai was running a high-fever during the performance.
So please also excuse her singing from the lyrics book during the performance.
7. A cover by the students of Yum / Bak in the 1976 film version of the opera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc4W0bnI068
Princess Changping was portrayed by Mui Suet-See (female) and Zhou Shixian by Loong Kim-Sang (also female).
Mui Suet-See and Loong Kim-Sang were students of Yum / Bak.
This 1976 film was directed by John Woo whom also directed, among others, Mission Impossible II (2000) starring Tom Cruise.
8. Other covers by Mui Suet-See and Loong Kim-Sang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed2RuHGwvXs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZRFKikKgwQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2xcUiieNdI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiPHaZsmFVs
9. A new interpretation by Mui Suet-See and Loong Kim-Sang in 2006:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ9UlQgMHZI
10. A cover by Mui Suet-See and Connie Chan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmyGh4GNfwo
Princess Changping was portrayed by Mui Suet-See (female) and Zhou Shixian by Connie Chan (also female).
Connie Chan was one of the Seven Princesses of Hong Kong cinemas.
She was also a student of Bak Suet-Sin.
11. A cover by Liza Wang and Adam Cheng in 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70nmml3a_QA
Liza Wang has Cantonese opera training and Adam Cheng's voice is very well suited for Cantonese opera.
The music arrangement was by Kitaro (Masanori Takahashi). .
12. A cover by Liza Wang and Leslie Cheung:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyU3gM3uD_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsRQexThSx8
Yum Kim-Fai passed away in 1989.
This performance in 1999 was for a TV program commemorating her 10th anniversary.
13. Both Susan Tse and Wen Qian-sui are professional Cantonese opera singers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y20vfcYek5U
But their performance seems to lack emotional engagement.
14. A cover by Joyce Koi and Steven Ma:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2rnf6OVKoo
Although Joyce Koi is also an actress, her background is in Cantonese opera.
Steven Ma is an actor whom also sings a bit on the side, but his singing of this Cantonese opera is an F (fail).
15. A cover by Donald Cheung and Amy Hu:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taD-LRe3h0Y
16. A cover by Jackson Wan and Cheung Mei-Lam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8gBhaCpYo8
17. A 2009 cover by Lau Wai-Ming and Li Shuqin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktf9s6S5ZC4
Princess Changping was portrayed by Li Shuqin (female) and Zhou Shixian by Lau Wai-Ming (also female).
18. This live performance by Lau Wai-Ming and Li Shuqin is quite impressive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM1VGppxu4w
19. This is just the music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UORug3Vnx9E
20. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:
帝女花之香夭 -- 任劍輝 & 白雪仙
詩白：
【旦】倚殿陰森奇樹雙，
【生】明珠萬顆映花黃。
【旦】如此斷腸花燭夜，
【生】不須侍女伴身旁，下去 。
【侍女們】知道。
唱詞：
【旦】落花滿天蔽月光，借一杯附薦鳳台上。
【旦】帝女花帶淚上香，願喪生回謝爹娘。
【旦】我偷偷看、偷偷望，佢帶淚帶淚暗悲傷。
【旦】我半帶驚惶，怕駙馬惜鸞鳳配，不甘殉愛伴我臨泉壤。
【生】寸心盼望能同合葬；鴛鴦侶，相偎傍。
【生】泉台上再設新房，地府陰司裡再覓那平陽門巷。
【旦】唉，惜花者甘殉葬。花燭夜，難為駙馬飲砒霜。
【生】江山悲災劫。感先帝，恩千丈；與妻雙雙叩問帝安。
【旦】唉，盼得花燭共諧白髮，誰個願看花燭翻血浪。
【旦】唉，我誤君累你同埋孽網，好應盡禮揖花燭深深拜。
【旦】再合巹交杯，墓穴作新房，待千秋歌讚註駙馬在靈牌上
【生】將柳陰當做芙蓉帳，明朝駙馬看新娘，夜半挑燈有心作窺妝。
【旦】地老天荒，情鳳永配痴凰，願與夫婿共拜相交杯舉案。
【生】遞過金杯慢咽輕嘗，將砒霜帶淚放落葡萄上。
唱詞：
【旦】合歡與君醉夢鄉，
【生】碰杯夢到夜台上。
【旦】百花冠替代殮妝，
【生】駙馬珈墳墓收藏。
【旦】相擁抱，
【生】相偎傍，
【合】雙枝有樹透露帝女香。
【生】帝女花，
【旦】長伴有心郎；
【合】夫妻死去與樹也同模樣。
21. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:
帝女花之香夭 -- 任剑辉 & 白雪仙
诗白：
【旦】倚殿阴森奇树双，
【生】明珠万颗映花黄。
【旦】如此断肠花烛夜，
【生】不须侍女伴身旁，下去。
【侍女们】知道。
唱词：
【旦】落花满天蔽月光，借一杯附荐凤台上。
【旦】帝女花带泪上香，愿丧生回谢爹娘。
【旦】我偷偷看、偷偷望，佢带泪带泪暗悲伤。
【旦】我半带惊惶，怕驸马惜鸾凤配，不甘殉爱伴我临泉壤。
【生】寸心盼望能同合葬；鸳鸯侣，相偎傍。
【生】泉台上再设新房，地府阴司里再觅那平阳门巷。
【旦】唉，惜花者甘殉葬。花烛夜，难为驸马饮砒霜。
【生】江山悲灾劫。感先帝，恩千丈；与妻双双叩问帝安。
【旦】唉，盼得花烛共谐白发，谁个愿看花烛翻血浪。
【旦】唉，我误君累你同埋孽网，好应尽礼揖花烛深深拜。
【旦】再合卺交杯，墓穴作新房，待千秋歌赞注驸马在灵牌上
【生】将柳阴当做芙蓉帐，明朝驸马看新娘，夜半挑灯有心作窥妆。
【旦】地老天荒，情凤永配痴凰，愿与夫婿共拜相交杯举案。
【生】递过金杯慢咽轻尝，将砒霜带泪放落葡萄上。
唱词：
【旦】合欢与君醉梦乡，
【生】碰杯梦到夜台上。
【旦】百花冠替代殓妆，
【生】驸马珈坟墓收藏。
【旦】相拥抱，
【生】相偎傍，
【合】双枝有树透露帝女香。
【生】帝女花，
【旦】长伴有心郎；
【合】夫妻死去与树也同模样。
22. Names, Words and Phrases:
Adam Cheng (Traditional Chinese: 鄭少秋; Simplified Chinese: 郑少秋).
Amy Hu (Traditional: 胡美儀; Simplified: 胡美仪).
Bak Suet-Sin (Traditional: 白雪仙; Simplified: 白雪仙).
Cantonese Opera (Traditional: 粵曲; Simplified: 粤曲).
Cheung Mei-Lam (Traditional: 張美琳; Simplified: 张美琳).
Connie Chan (Traditional: 陳寶珠; Simplified: 陈宝珠).
Donald Cheung (張偉文; Simplified: 张伟文).
Emperor Chongzhen (Traditional: 崇禎皇帝; Simplified: 崇祯皇帝).
Jackson Wan (Traditional: 尹光; Simplified: 尹光).
John Woo (Traditional: 吳宇森; Simplified: 吴宇森).
Joyce Koi (Traditional: 蓋鳴暉; Simplified: 盖鸣晖).
Kitaro (Traditional: 喜多郎; Simplified: 喜多郎).
Lau Wai-Ming (Traditional: 劉惠鳴; Simplified: 刘惠鸣).
Leslie Cheung (Traditional: 張國榮; Simplified: 张国荣).
Li Shuqin (Traditional: 李淑勤; Simplified: 李淑勤).
Liza Wang (Traditional: 汪明荃; Simplified: 汪明荃).
Loong Kim-Sang (Traditional: 龍劍笙; Simplified: 龙剑笙).
Masanori Takahashi (Traditional: 高橋正則; Simplified: 高桥正则).
Mui Suet-See (Traditional: 梅雪詩; Simplified: 梅雪诗).
Princess Changping (person) (Traditional: 長平公主; Simplified: 长平公主).
Princess Changping (opera title) (Traditional: 帝女花; Simplified: 帝女花).
Qing (Traditional: 清; Simplified: 清).
Steven Ma (Traditional: 馬浚偉; Simplified: 马浚伟).
Susan Tse (Traditional: 謝雪心; Simplified: 谢雪心).
Wen Qian-sui (Traditional: 文千歲; Simplified: 文千岁).
Yum Kim-Fai (Traditional: 任劍輝; Simplified: 任剑辉).
Zhou Shixian (Traditional: 周世顯; Simplified: 周世显).
References:
"Chongzhen Emperor", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongzhen_Emperor
(accessed 2013-10-13).
"Princess Changping", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Changping
(accessed 2013-10-13).
"崇禎帝", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%B4%87%E7%A6%8E%E5%B8%9D
(accessed 2013-10-13).
"長平公主", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%95%BF%E5%B9%B3%E5%85%AC%E4%B8%BB
(accessed 2013-10-13).
"帝女花", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%B8%9D%E5%A5%B3%E8%8A%B1
(accessed 2013-10-13).
"唐滌生", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%94%90%E6%BB%8C%E7%94%9F
(accessed 2013-10-13).
"任劍輝", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E4%BB%BB%E5%8A%8D%E8%BC%9D
(accessed 2013-10-13).
"白雪仙", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E7%99%BD%E9%9B%AA%E4%BB%99
(accessed 2013-10-13).
End.
