Kun Opera Peony Pavilion -The Young Lovers' Edition
Adapted by Bai Xianyong
Performed by the Suzhou Kun Opera Theatre
Language: Subtitles in Chinese / English
Published by Zhejiang Audio-Visual Publishing House, 2007
Media: 4 DVDs
ISBN: 9787883997207
ISRC: CNE130403910

Adapted from a classic script and produced by the renowned contemporary writer Kenneth Pai, the Young Lovers' Edition of the Kun opera Peony Pavilion has been performed more than one hundred times in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. the new Mudanting DVD was published in order to celebrate the 100th performance and preserve the opera longer. It is finally available here for Kung opera fans.

The critically acclaimed youth edition of the Kun opera Peony Pavilion is characterized with integrating the elegant art of kunqu and the 21st century taste. The publication of  the youth edition Kun Opera Peony Pavilion will help to promote a wider renaissance and international appreciation of traditional Chinese performing arts.

The Peony Pavilion is a representative work by the outstanding Chinese dramatist Tang Xianzu of the 16th century. The work, through the romantic love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei, reflects the persistent aspiration for free love and exposes the evil of the feudal ethics. Du Liniang has a dream in which she meets a young scholar and promises to marry him. When she wakes up, she yearns for her lover and falls ill; after a while she dies of lovesickness. The young scholar in her dream was Liu Mengmei, who later made his way to the capital to take the imperial examination. He meets Du Liniang's soul in Plum in Blossom Nunnery and agrees to help her return to life by reuniting her soul with her body. They are successful and live happily ever after.

With its complicated plot and magnificent structure, The Peony Pavilion in 55 scenes is particularly known for its excellent character portrayals. Its 160 odd characters provide a panoramic picture of social life in the Ming Dynasty. The work is renowned for its beautiful verses, in which "Travelling in the Garden," "The Dream Interrupted," and "Searching for the Dream" are regarded masterpieces of music and craft. It has much influence on the development of drama in China in later days. It said that the Peony Pavilion was first performed in 1598 at the Pavilion of Prince Teng. One of Tang's "Four Dreams", it has traditionally been performed as a Kunqu opera

Kun opera or Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Its main characteristics include subtle music, poetic language, elegant movement and romantic Libretti. The Peony Pavilion is the primary showcase of the guimendan role type. All Kun theatre troupes include it in their repertoire. All performance has focused on the love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei.

商品名称：昆曲《牡丹亭》白先勇青春版
介质：DVD
碟数：4
出版社：浙江音像出版社，2007
ISBN：9787883997207
ISRC：CNE130403910
 
青春版《牡丹亭》的制作最大的挑战便是如何将昆曲的古典美学与二十一世纪的审美意识磨合接轨，将有五百年表演历史的古老剧种搬上现代舞台，使其重新焕发青春的生命与光芒。
《牡丹亭》又称《还魂记》，是一部文学史上及剧坛上极有名的巨著。作者汤显祖，明朝江西临川人，才华绝代，学识渊博，借古代的传说为故事梗概，发展成五十五出曲折动人的戏剧。剧中的女主角宋朝南安府太守杜宝的女儿丽娘，游园伤春，因梦生情，寻梦不得，为情而死，死后三年，又因情复活，虽然离奇荒诞，却足以说明「情」的感人力量。
昆剧，亦称“昆曲”，产生于明代嘉靖、隆庆年间的江苏昆山。迄今已有六百余年历史。明、清之际，它成为全国最大剧种，主宰剧坛二百余年。我国现存历史较长的地方剧种，几乎无不受过昆剧艺术的影响，有“中国戏曲之母”的雅称。