Li Shengsu

Li Shengsu is a Chinese Peking opera singer-actress who plays Dan roles. She began performing traditional Chinese opera from a young age and is a student of Mei Baojiu and other famous opera performers.[1][2] She is widely considered a Peking opera superstar and has many renown performances.[3] Currently, Li Shengsu is the director of Troupe One of China National Peking Opera Company. Li also holds positions in other organizations as well, including being a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.[3] She has received multiple awards and recognition for her performance in Peking opera.   

Li Shengsu
Born (1966-02-16) February 16, 1966
Baixiang County, Xingtai City, Hebei, China
Alma materNational Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts
OccupationPeking opera performer
Years active1986–present
EmployerChina National Peking Opera Company
Known forDan roles
StyleMei (Mei Lanfang) school
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese李勝素
Simplified Chinese李胜素
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Li.

Acting career

Li Shengsu was born on February 16, 1966 in Baixiang County, Xingtai City of Hebei, China. [2]

She began her career in performing Chinese opera after she was specially recruited into the Yu Opera Troupe of Baixiang County by Wei Shengliang (魏胜良) who was a teacher in the troupe. [2] At that time, she was ten years old. [4] In 1979, at the age of thirteen, Li converted to learning Peking opera since the Hebei Vocational Art College was recruiting students for Peking opera. There, under the instructions of Qi Lanqiu (齐兰秋), she began learning how to perform Dan roles such as Tsing Yi (青衣) and Hua Dan (花旦). Upon graduating in 1986, Li was assigned to the Handan Peking Opera Troupe where she served the roles of main performer and leader. [2][5]

Li Shengsu (to the left) with fellow Peking opera performer Yu Kuizhi

Li Shengsu became a disciple of the opera performer Liu Xiurong (刘秀荣) in 1987. In 1988, Li Shengsu officially joined the Mei (Mei Lanfang) school or style of Peking opera and became a disciple of Mei Baojiu. Mei Baojiu personally taught her performances such as The Drunken Concubine (贵妃醉酒) and The Phoenix Returns Home (凤还巢).[2]

In 1991, Li Shengsu transferred to the Shanxi Peking Opera Theater as lead performer. There she also served as the head of the Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe. [2]

In 1998, Li Shengsu entered the Graduate School of Outstanding Young Actors of Peking Opera for further study. After three years, Li mastered the professional theory of opera performance and graduated with a graduate degree in 2001. In 2001, she also transferred over to the second troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company as a special recruit. [2][5] There, she was under the instructions of Qi Lanqiu, Liu Yuantong (刘元彤), and He Junying (何君英) and other Peking opera performers. Not only did Li Shengsu further developed her skills in traditional Peking opera with her mentors, she and her mentors also innovated opera by integrating the different acting skills of various Dan roles into one and adding their own interpretations into old drama to give them new vitality. [2]

Performances
Li Shengsu performing "Farewell My Concubine"

Li Shengsu has performed in various places across China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan. Not only has she performed in China, she has also traveled the world to share her performance with audiences of other countries. Some countries that Li Shengsu has performed in are South Korea, Japan, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, France, the United States, Australia, Italy, Canada, Cuba and Egypt.[5] Some of Li Shengsu's most representative works are listed in the table below:[2][5]

English Name Original Title English Name Original Title
Dabaoguo 大保国 Jinwei Reclamation/Jinwei Fills the Sea 精卫填海
Two Into the Palace 二进宫 Meng Lijun 孟丽君
Cosmic Front 宇宙锋 Ocean Oath 海誓
Red Mane Horse 红鬃烈马 Golden Valley Garden 金谷园
Farewell My Concubine 霸王别姬 The Story of Playing the Sword 弹剑记
The Drunken Concubine 贵妃醉酒 The Soldier Saint Sun Wu 兵圣孙武
Life and Death Hatred 生死恨 Imperial Concubine of the Tang Dynasty 大唐贵妃
Lian Jingfeng 廉锦枫 Jin Deyu 晋德裕
Legend of the White Snake 白蛇传 Mei Lanfang 梅兰芳
Silang (Fourth Son) Visits His Mother 四郎探母 Yuan Chonghuan 袁崇焕
The Phoenix Returns Home 凤还巢 Red Cliff/ Chibi 赤壁
Commander Mu Guiying 穆桂英挂帅 Red Man River/The River All Red 满江红
Xie Yaohuan 谢瑶环 Female General of Yangmen 杨门女将
Red Thread Stealing Box 红线盗盒 Soul Mate/Soul Companion 知音
Goddess of the Luo River 洛神 The Silk Road Great Wall 丝路长城
Liu Yin Ji 柳荫记 Xi'an Incident 西安事变
Wild Boar Forest 野猪林 The Legend of Taizhen 太真外传

Filmography

Peking opera films and TV series

Li Shengsu starred in some Peking opera films and TV series based on stage productions, such as Xie Yaohuan (2001 TV series), Yuan Chonghuan (2009 film), and Mu Guiying Takes Command (2017 film, directed by Xia Gang). [6][7][8]

Non-opera films and TV series
Year English title Original title Role Notes
1983The First Pass Under Heaven天下第一關TV series
1988The Legend of the Daliang Mountains大涼山傳奇Yang FengFilm

Roles and positions
The China National Peking Opera Company at a performance in Taipei

Li Shengsu has held various positions in the Peking opera field and in other areas. She used to serve as leader of the Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe for the Shanxi Peking Opera Theater. She is currently the director of Troupe One of the China National Peking Opera Company after she succeeded Yu Kuizhi to the position on September 18, 2010. [9] She is also a member of the Chinese Dramatist Association as well.[2] Other roles that Li Shengsu holds includes being a member of the 11th and 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of All-China Women's Federations and a member of the standing committee of the All-China Youth Federation.[3][5]

Awards and accomplishments

Li Shengsu has been recognized multiple times for her skill and talent in Peking opera.

In 1987, Li Shengsu won the outstanding performance award at the first CCTV National Youth Beijing competition with her performance of Lian Jingfeng (廉锦枫).[2]

In 1991, she was awarded the best performance award at the National Young and Middle-Aged Peking Opera Actor TV Grand Prix for her performance of Red Thread Stealing Box (红线盗盒).[2]

In 1992, Li Shengsu participated in the National Young Peking Opera teams's new play show where she won the Excellent Actor Performance Award for Meng Lijun (孟丽君).[2]

In 1996, Li Shengsu became the recipient of the 13th Plum Blossom Performance Award.[2]

In 1997, she won the title of "Outstanding Young Artist" at the 14th World Youth Festival in Cuba. [2]

In 2001, she received the honorary award for the National Excellent Young Peking Opera Actors. That year she was also honored with the titles "Match 8th Red Flag Bearer", "Advanced Literary and Art Worker" and the "Second Top Ten You of Shanxi Province" by the provincial Party committee and the government. [2]

In 2004, Li Shengsu became the first person to sing Peking opera in the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria.[5]

In 2008, she was awarded the National Stage Art Excellent Project Award.[5]

In 2010, she won the Excellent Performance Award of the National Art Academy Group Exhibition Competition.[5]

On December 29, 2017, Li Shengsu won the 10th China Gold Record Award for Best Peking Opera and Quyi Performer with her performance in Symphony Peking Opera - Female General of Yangmen (杨门女将). [10]

She also holds the title of national first class performer.[5]

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References
  1. "Peking Opera Strikes a Chord in London". China Daily. 2017-10-26.
  2. "李胜素". 百度百科. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  3. "Li Shengsu". Sinolink Productions.
  4. "Interview with Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu of the China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC) | English - Min-On Website". Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  5. 院办 (2011-03-21). "李胜素". www.cnpoc.cn. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  6. "《谢瑶环》 第1集_戏曲影视剧场_视频_央视网". tv.cntv.cn. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  7. "CCTV International". www.cctv.com. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  8. Heroine Mu Guiying, retrieved 2020-07-02.
  9. 姜贺 (2010-09-19). "李胜素同志被聘任为国家京剧院一团团长". www.cnpoc.cn. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  10. 新华网 (2017-12-29). "第十届中国金唱片奖揭晓 张杰李宗盛等20人获奖". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-06-30.


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