When it comes to Peking Opera, the first thing that comes to mind is Mr. Mei Lanfang, a master of a generation, who can be described as a banner of Chinese Peking Opera and has made incomparable contributions to the prosperity and dissemination of Peking Opera art. Among the meipai descendants, there is an artistic master who has to be mentioned, that is, Li Shengsu, who is known as the "first beauty of Peking Opera".
Li Shengsu's beauty does not only come from her plain and elegant temperament, beautiful appearance and beautiful singing voice, but also from the fact that she not only inherits the essence of Mei Pai performance, so that fans can vaguely see the unique style of Mr. Mei Lanfang and grow into the leader among the mei pai inheritors; but also push the mei pai art to a new realm with her own strength.
(Beautifully dressed Li Shengsu)
So, what kind of person is Li Shengsu? What kind of experience did she have in life and on her artistic path?
First, born in a peasant family, obsessed with opera.
Li Shengsu was born into a peasant family in Baixiang County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, and ranked fourth among many siblings. When he was a child, Li Shengsu was a tomboy, lively and active, smart and stubborn, and very persevering. As long as it is something that you have identified, no matter how tired you are, you must desperately complete it.
In the land of Yanzhao where Li Shengsu was born, it has been the hometown of opera since ancient times, and Peking Opera, Zizi, Yu Opera, and Silk Strings have been widely circulated here. People's love for opera is infused in the bones, and any villager can casually say a few words of opera. Although Li Shengsu's father did not have much culture, he danced when it came to opera, and he was a veteran theater fan.
Li Shengsu, who grew up in such an environment, formed an indissoluble relationship with opera when he was a child, not only obsessed with listening to opera, but also humming music for days. Coupled with the fact that she was born with a good voice, and her voice is not only beautiful and bright, but also delicate and delicate, these unique opera talents surprised her parents and made up their minds to cultivate her well.
When she was 10 years old, the county theater troupe went to the school to recruit students, and the teachers immediately looked at this talented little girl who loved opera, leading her to embark on a career in opera art.
During his three years in the county theater troupe, Li Shengsu cherished this hard-won opportunity. Although she was the youngest student in her class, she was often the hardest working person in her practice. As long as she has free time, she will practice the basic skills hard, and often fall on her body with a piece of blue and purple. Her parents especially hurt and loved their daughter and persuaded her that if she really couldn't stay up, she should simply go home, but Li Shengsu instead comforted her parents and said that she was not tired at all.
In 1979, 13-year-old Li Shengsu won the opportunity to apply for the Hebei Provincial Art School through hard work. However, the school selects Peking Opera students, which is difficult for Li Shengsu, who only has a foundation in Yu opera. However, Li Shengsu decided to take the exam in a different way, simply using a Yu opera "Liang Zhu" that he was good at.
Unexpectedly, this dangerous trick received miraculous results, she conquered the judges with her solid skills and gentle singing voice, won the favor of the recruiting teachers in one fell swoop, and has since truly entered the palace of art.
(Li Shengsu on stage)
Second, under the guidance of famous teachers, learn a special skill.
At the Hebei Provincial Art School, Li Shengsu was very lucky to meet his mentor Qi Lanqiu, and studied with this Peking Opera predecessor for 7 years, doing his best to pass on the true biography of Qi Lanqiu's Gongdanxing performance. Qi Lanqiu was mainly based on Mei Pai, and worked with Xi Xiaobo, one of the "Four Great Su Sheng", and became popular throughout Shanghai that year.
In 1986, after 7 years of formal training, Li Shengsu graduated with honors and came to the Handan Peking Opera Troupe. A year later, she studied under Liu Xiurong, the first generation of Peking opera artists in New China, and learned to rehearse the repertoire of "The Legend of the White Snake". Liu Xiurong is a disciple of Wang Yaoqing, who has both literature and martial arts, and the song "The Legend of the White Snake" can be described as a long-lasting performance. Wang Yaoqing is also a teacher of the "Four Famous Dans" and has a long-standing relationship with Meipai art. After the first contact with Mei Pai's performance skills, Li Shengsu was deeply impressed by it and has since formed an indissoluble relationship with Mei Pai.
In 1987, Li Shengsu participated in the National Young Actors Television Grand Prix as a descendant of Mei Pai, won the Outstanding Performance Award, and attracted the attention of a Mei Pai performance artist, who was Mei Baojiu, the son of Mei Lanfang.
In 1988, Li Shengsu's performance was already quite famous, and he was invited to participate in the Mei Lanfang Classic Repertoire Show held in Hong Kong, performing on the same stage with Mei Baojiu and Mei Baoyue.
In 1991, Li Shengsu came to the Shaanxi Provincial Peking Opera House and became the main actor of the theater, under the careful guidance of Mei Lanfang's disciple Liu Yuantong, Li Shengsu's performing arts became more and more mature, and with a famous Meipai drama "Red Line Stealing Box", he won the Best Performance Award of the National Young and Middle-Aged Peking Opera Actors Television Competition.
(Mr. Mei Baojiu and Li Shengsu)
In 1995, Li Shengsu finally ushered in the plum blossom award individual performance, "Dream in the Garden", "Lian Jinfeng", "Red Line Thief Box", "Meng Lijun" four classic plays completely conquered the audience, but also impressed Mei Baojiu. It was also after the performance that Li Shengsu was officially accepted as a disciple by Mei Baojiu and became the true descendant of mei pai. At the ceremony, Li Shengsu's two mentors, Liu Yuantong and Mei Baojiu, could not help but sigh with emotion: "We must jointly cultivate the good seedling of Haoshengsu, so that Mei Pai will have a successor." ”
Since becoming a disciple of Mei Baojiu, Li Shengsu's performance skills have improved by leaps and bounds. Its handsome appearance, bright voice, and graceful dance posture have captured countless fans.
In the following years, Li Shengsu brought the national essence of Peking Opera to all parts of the world, and successively performed in the United States, Japan, Russia and other countries, making great contributions to the promotion of Chinese Peking Opera and the dissemination of China's national art.
In 2001, after graduating from the graduate class of the China Academy of Performing Arts, Li Shengsu came to the Second Troupe of the Beijing Opera House in China and became the golden partner of Mr. Yu Zhikui, a leader in the old student line. As long as the two perform together, the troupe is often full and it is difficult to find a ticket.
In January 2004, Li Shengsu and Yu Kuizhi sang the beautiful peking opera melody for the first time in the Golden Hall of Vienna, the world's music capital. She conquered foreigners with her clear and subtle, gorgeous and gentle voice and superb performance, and was commented by foreign media as "only the artistic angels from the East can make this gentle singing voice pour over everyone".
Until now, Li Shengsu, who has passed the age of confusion, is still active on the Peking Opera stage, bringing endless fun to Peking Opera fans with his beautiful singing and handsome appearance.
(References: Peking Opera Performance Artist Li Shengsu, Meipai Da Qingyi Li Shengsu, etc.)