Beijing Opera Gala Concert

"The Zhao's Orphan" sung by Mr. Shouyi Sun

Today it was my great pleasure to be invited to the Beijing Opera Gala Concert at the Box Hill Senior Citizen's Hall.  The Beijing Opera group meets at the Louise Multicultural Community Centre once a week and have been doing so for some years now.  Members of the group range in ages but are generally retired older members of the community.  They are passionate about their art and very talented - a pleasure to watch and listen to.  The instruments used by their musicians are amazing.  Here the group leader, Mr Shouyi Sun sings "The Zhao's Orphan".  Shouyi is also one of our valued Louise MCC volunteers and is a member of the Louise MCC.  Well done Beijing Opera Group!

Wikipedia:  The story of Zhao's Orphan:  The main story is adapted from historical records of the Spring-Autumn period of 2500 years ago. The king of the state Jin was criticized by a loyal Minister Zhao, for sling-shooting passers-by for personal pleasure. Tu-an took the opportunity to smear the righteous Zhao and got the King's permission to kill every one of the Zhao family to end his bloodline. Zhao's son was married to the Princess who was at the time pregnant. Her life was spared but the baby was to be killed in due course. The Princess managed to smuggle the baby out of the palace with the help of her doctor. Failing to locate and to kill the baby, Tu-an ordered to kill all the infants, if the Zhao's baby was not duly submitted. The doctor sacrificed his own real son to Tu-an and the King in order to save the Zhao's bloodline, causing his own wife to go mad. As the Zhao baby grew, the doctor sent him to be raised next to the king and told him of the truth fifteen years later. The Zhao Orphan then killed Tu-an and completed his revenge, re-establishing the Zhao's family line.