This birthday hanging was used in the first London production (1934-5) of SI Hsiung's play <i>Lady Precious Stream</i>, an adaptation of a Chinese opera based on a Tang Dynasty tale. The play was extremely successful. Painter Xu Beihong provided illustrations to the published text of the play, and Mei Lanfang designed the costumes for the play.
Historical significance: In the 1930s in Europe a series of events demonstrated European interest in the culture of Modern China: Xu Beihong had successfully staged an exhibition of Chinese ink paintings in Paris in 1935, and the Republican Chinese government organised an exhibition of Chinese Art at the Royal Academy (it was the first exhibition of Chinese arts to be held at the RA). This play was extremely well-received by the London public, and went on to run on the Broadway in New York, as a modern update on the traditional Chinese operatic form, with traditional Chinese opera translated into modern stageplay.
ecrm:P3_has_note
This birthday hanging was used in the first London production (1934-5) of SI Hsiung's play <i>Lady Precious Stream</i>, an adaptation of a Chinese opera based on a Tang Dynasty tale. The play was extremely successful. Painter Xu Beihong provided illustrations to the published text of the play, and Mei Lanfang designed the costumes for the play.
Historical significance: In the 1930s in Europe a series of events demonstrated European interest in the culture of Modern China: Xu Beihong had successfully staged an exhibition of Chinese ink paintings in Paris in 1935, and the Republican Chinese government organised an exhibition of Chinese Art at the Royal Academy (it was the first exhibition of Chinese arts to be held at the RA). This play was extremely well-received by the London public, and went on to run on the Broadway in New York, as a modern update on the traditional Chinese operatic form, with traditional Chinese opera translated into modern stageplay.