Collection of Peking Opera Master: Four Later Great Player of Xu Sheng
Performed by Ma Lianliang, Tan Fuying, Yang Baosen, Xi Xiaobo
1 CD
Produced by Audio-Visual Press of Chinese Culture and Art

9 selected famous arias of four later great players of old male character in Peking opera: Ma Lianliang, Tan Fuying, Yang Baosen, Xi Xiaobo.

Ma Lianliang (1901-1966), a native of Beijing. As a trainee at the Fuliancheng in his early years, he learned to play wu sheng and lao sheng roles. Since he finished his training, during the period from 1920s to 1960s, he had been active on the stage all the time and established himself as an outstanding performing artist with his unique style, the Ma style. His voice was pleasingly gentle. His singing was fresh and had a lingering charm. His body movement was natural and graceful, which contributed much to his exquisite performance. He was particularly celebrated for his perfection in dialoguing, which the audiences felt would tug at their heartstrings. Ma was good at both civilian and martial roles. His early performances included Mount Dingjun and Nan Yang Pass, in which he played the martial roles, and General's Son to Be Executed, and Silang Visits His Mother, which featured his skill of singing. His performances at the middle age as in Ten Petitions, Burning the Mian Mountain, the Fire-Ox Battle Formation, Sweet Dew Temple, Four Newly Appointed Officials, a Human Head on Trial and Summoning the East Wind were all loved by the audience and many of the arias from these plays had been widely spread and sung by Beijing opera fans. The Orphan of Zhao Family was followed by Yan Shaopeng, Zhou Xiaotian, Wang Jinlu, Chi Jinsheng, Wang Helin, Li Muliang, Liang Yiming, Zhang Xuejin and Feng Zhixiao.

Tan Fuying (1906-1977), born in Beijing. His grandfather, Tan Xinpei, and father, Tan Xiaopei, were both outstanding lao sheng players. An inheritor of the family art tradition, he entered the Fuliancheng at the age of 12 and was instructed by Xiao Changhua, Wang Xixiu and Lei Xifu. After the training, he offered himself as Yu Shuyan's pupil, and established his fame in the early 1930s. His voice was clear and pleasingly crisp. He performed well in a large range of plays, including Mount Dingjun, Battle of Taiping, a Child Left in the Mulberry Garden, a Ghost Basin, Reviling Cao Cao While Beating a Drum, In and Out of the Box, Hong Yang Cave, Silang Visits His Mother, Ruse of Empty City, the Pearl Screen Fort, Rescue of an Orphan, the Meeting of Heroes, the Pavilion of Royal Monument and General and Minister Are Reconciled. His son, Tan Yuanshou, has inherited the Tan style, which is also followed by Ma Changli and Gao baoxian.

Yang Baosen (1910-1958), born in Beijing. His grandfather, Yang Duoxian and uncle, Yang Xiaoduo, were both renowned actors in the hua dan (young female) role. He was first trained by Chen Xiuhua and Bao Jixiang in lao sheng. At the age of 10, he joined the Binqing Troupe. Since he got a hoarse voice at 16, he had concentrated all his efforts in the Yu style. He arranged his tunes in a smooth and gentle way, which would leave a lingering charm to the audience. His dialoguing was clear and forceful. His performing art was recognized as the Yang style. His representative works included Escape Out of the Pass, Ruse of Empty City, Pearl Screen Fort, Suicide at the Monument and a Register of Clean Officials. He was followed by Li Mingsheng, Ma Chagli, Wang Zhenghua, Liang Qiangyun and Ye Peng.

Xi Xiaobo (1910-1977), a native of Beijing. His love for Beijing opera dated back to his childhood, when he would often appear on the stage as an amateur performer, playing the lao sheng role. He made intensive studies in the Tan, Yan and Ma styles. He formally joined an opera troupe at the age of 21. Incorporating the artistic merits of both Ma and Yan styles, his singing was smooth and polished, which formed his own style, the Xi style. His repertoire included the Precious Lotus Lantern, a Register of Clean Officials, the Extended Encampment, Bai Di City and Fa Men Temple, Fan Jin Succeeds in Imperial Exam was one of his representative works in the late years.

后四大须生
表演者：马连良、谭富英、杨宝森、奚啸伯
出版者：中华文艺音像出版社
介质：1碟装CD
ISBN：CNA499900530

内容简介：

中国戏曲名家名唱
京剧大师传世绝版

目录：
赵氏孤儿 -马连良
串龙珠 -马连良
洪羊洞 -谭富英
打渔杀家 -谭富英
桑园寄子 -谭富英
击鼓骂曹 - 杨宝森
文昭关 -杨宝森
空城计 -奚啸伯
李陵碑 -杨宝森