My idols

Today, I am finally going to blog about my idols. Yay!

As I always said before, one of my favourite actress in this whole wide world is Shi Xiao Mei, Kunqu Sheng. She started off as a dan but she felt that she is actually more suitable for Sheng. After some difficulties, she finally managed to convert to a sheng. Think she got affect to Yueju to be a 'nv xiao sheng'.

Shi Xiao Mei has a wonderful crystal clear voice. I love her voice because it is so clear and bright. She is also very good looking. Her xiao sheng looks is very refined and she got the scholarly look. The first time I saw her was at Esplanade. That time I didn't know what kunqu was all about but her performance made me fall in love with kunqu and since then, I like Shi Xiao Mei very much. I downloaded alot of her Kunqu mp3 and try to find her Vcds. It is very hard to find her vcds. Really difficult especially in Singapore. I only managed to find 2!

Today, I will upload one that she acted as wawasheng. Bet you din see that before! hee hee.... I love her expression when the news was revealed to her in the show that her father is going to send her away to his brother's home. Her father got into some political stuff and is in danger. So, he sent his son to his god-brother's place for safety. Shi xiao mei made a very cute expression before bursting into tears...

The choreography was very nice in this clip when they sang a piece. I uploaded the whole singing part as I wanna show the choreograph.

Please note also that in the clip below, shi xiao mei accidentally kneeled on the 'jian sui' of the father but she cooly and styloly move the jian sui away...



Next idol is my favourite dan in the whole wide world also, Zhang Ji Qing. She is a kunqu dan. Maybe you all will say I only like Kunqu actresses but not really lor. I also like other opera types actresses but not as much as the Kunqu ones that's all.

Zhang Ji Qing has the sweetest voice in the world. Though other people may have good techniques to sing, they might not be born with a sweet voice. Zhang Ji Qing is very fortunate. She is born with a sweet voice and she has the talent to sing well. The first time I got to know her was through a website. I was downloading Shi xiao mei's mp3 when I thought I might as well try out the dan's singing. I randomly downloaded Zhang Ji Qing's 'Shan Po Yang' and my goodness. Her voice stayed in my brain from then on. This is truely 'rao liang san ri'. At that time, I did not see her face yet nor did I see her performance before but I really like her so much because her voice is so sweet.

Finally, I got to see her performance from a VCD. She is not exactly a very pretty dan but her acting was superb. Each smile, each frown was done so perfectly. I especially love her embarassed expression.

There was once when she was invited to Singapore for a talk with Yu Qiu Yu at Ju Shi Lin. I was ecstatic!! That day I got performance but I went for the talk anyway. She sang live that day and I felt so fortunate to hear her live. She is already quite old. Around 60 but her voice is still like a young girl's.

Audience gave her a nickname, queen of Kunqu. She is the teacher of Shen Feng Ying for the Youthful version Mudanting. She is also a first grade actress. Forgot to mention, Shi xiao mei is also a first grade actress...

I think Du Li Niang is the most difficult role to act in chinese opera. It is so full of internal emotions...

Zhang Ji Qing's Mu dan ting:



Then I also Like Li Wei Kang of Pekin Opera. Although I didn't like her as much as the above dan, I think that Li Wei kang has got a powerful singing. She is cute too, with a round face. I especially like her piece from Si Lang Tan Mu, Zuo Gong.

The story is, Yang Si lang, married this princess tie jing without telling her that he is actually the Yang family's son. One day, the Yang family was coming close to the borders and Yang Si lang wanted to go back to visit his mother but he can't do so as he cannot go out without the medal. He decided to tell Tie Jing his real identity and Tie jing decided to steal the medal for him.

Look at the clip below. There is a part where Yang Si Lang is emotionally telling Tie Jing that he is upset but Tie Jing was angry with him for lying to her and let their son pee, ignoring Si lang. Funny... :)

My favourite song is the fast duet. If got chance, I would like to learn to sing that part. Please note that the actor doing Yang Si Lang is the real husband of Li Wei Kang, Geng Qi Chang.



I still got idols in Pekin and liyuanxi but hor... No time alreadyl... need to prepare for class... so next time!