Performed by China National Peking Opera Company, the country's one and only national peking opera Ensemble

Peking Opera Return of the Phoenix (Feng Huan Chao)

A senior court minister Cheng Pu retired from his office and went home. He had two daughters, the elder, Xueyan, was very plain, and the other, Xue'e, was beautiful and intelligent. One day, Cheng took a ride to the country to enjoy the spring scene. They met Mu Juyi, son of an old friend. Cheng liked the young man so much that he asked him to come to his birthday party, with the hope that he would give him his daughter Xue'e as wife. But back home, Lady Cheng wanted him to marry his elder daughter off first. The two got into a squabble because of this. On his birthday, Zhu Huanran came to visit and asked for the hand of 'young Lady Cheng'. He was taken for Mu by Lady Cheng. Later, Mu himself came to visit. Cheng offered to give him one of his daughters and invited him to stay the night at the study. When Xueyan, the elder daughter knew of this, she paid Mu a nocturnal visit, in the name of her younger sister. Mu was repelled by her ugly looks, and fled from the Cheng residence immediately. On the way, he came across Zhu, who found it a golden opportunity to get Mu out of the way so that he could have the pretty Xue'e for himself. He offered Mu money and a horse and told him to run as far as he can. It so happened that Cheng Pu was ordered by the Emperor to return to the battlefield with Commissioner Zhou. When he met Mu on the road, he reprimanded him for leaving so hastily. Mu gave him an excuse, which he accepted and took him into his squadron. Back home, Zhu went to greet his bride as an imposter of Mu. Lady Cheng sent Xueyan in place of Xue'e. Zhu only discovered that he had got the wrong bride that wedding night, but there was nothing he could do. When there was unrest in the area, Lady Cheng wanted to take refuge in Zhu's place. Xue'e refused to come along. Cheng Pu suppressed the rebels and welcomed his daughter, Xue'e to the camp. He brought up the marriage proposal to Mu again. Still working under the illusion that Xue'e was the plain one, Mu adamantly refuses. But Hong Gong and the Commissioner Zhou forced him to accept by performing the wedding for them. He only discovered the mistake when he met his bride at the bridal chamber. He apologized profusely to his new wife for his ungracious behavior before. On the other hand, Zhu's residence was ransacked. He brought his wife and his mother-in-law to meet up with Cheng, and it was a happy reunion for all.

Remarks: Tickets for Peking Opera Return of the Phoenix are available now!