Culture Beat: NCPA to stage Peking Opera classic ‘Farewell My Concubine’

Farewell My ConcubinePhoto: VCG

To celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, which will fall on Tuesday in 2024, the National ­Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) will present a series of exciting performances, including the Peking Opera Farewell My Concubine, which will be staged on Friday.

The opera is a classic work that was initially adapted from the story of Xiang Yu, the self-styled "Hegemon-King of Western Chu" from over 2,000 years ago, and his tragic farewell to his beloved concubine Yu Ji after being defeated. The story is based on a historical event from the late Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC). 

This opera was famously performed by Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), who played the role of Yu Ji. 

The opera has been performed by numerous prominent artists since its debut in 1918. 

The performance structure was refined over time, eventually evolving into the eight-act version that audiences know today.