Li Muliang

Leading Peking Opera artists and players of jinghu, the stringed instrument always used in this operatic tradition, will celebrate the more than 80-year-long career of Li Muliang, renowned composer and jinghu maestro, with two grand shows. One show will run at the National Center for the Performing Arts on Friday and the other at the Mei Lanfang Grand Theater on Saturday.

Li was born in Changsha, Hunan province, in 1918, and began to learn Peking Opera singing at the age 7, specializing in laosheng, the old male roles. He first played the jinghu when he was just 9 and gave his first public performance at 12. His talents were quickly spotted by famous Peking Opera artist Ma Lianliang (1901-66), who soon took him under his wings. He rose in fame in the early 20s, accompanying Ma and Yan Jupeng (1890-1942).

After the founding of New China, Li joined the Beijing Peking Opera Company and composed many new dramas such as Orphan of Zhao's Family (Zhaoshi Gu'er) and Battle of Red Cliffs (Chibi Zhizhan), as well as the eight popular modern Peking Operas with revolutionary themes, during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

The show will feature many leading Peking Opera artists who collaborated with Li including Mei Baojiu, son of Mei Langfang (1894-1961).

(China Daily August 5, 2009)