In the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Sheng finished the classic Qhaun-qi opera, The Palace of Eternal Life, a series of fifty operas. The opera, with its taut structure and beautiful vocal melodies, is the epitome of Kunqu art. “Lan-ting” chose classic scenes, including “Engagement,” “Complaint at Night,” “Secret Vows,” “Peeking in the Bath,” “A Shocking Change,” “Burying the Jade,” and “Singing the Story” and the tune of “Spring in Qin-yuan Garden” of “The Legend,” to compose an opera of highlights that lasts 100 minutes.

Using flashbacks, Musician Li Guei-nian narrates the love of Tang Emperor Ming-huang and Consort Yang, starting from their engagement over the jewelry box, Yu-huan’s jealous drunkenness caused by the emperor’s favoring of Consort Mei, their reconciliation and the exchange of vows on the evening of Qi-xi Festival. This is followed by An Lu-shan’s Rebellion when the royalty seeks refuge in Shu and how halfway there the army refuses to move forward so that Emperor Ming-huang is forced to order Consort Yang to hang herself at Ma-wei Courier Station.

Wen Yu-hang, honorable resident artist of Lan-ting, plays Emperor Ming-huang; Chen Mei-lan, an excellent actor of dan roles of Guo Guang Opera Company, plays Consort Yang. Zhang Shi-zheng and his wife Zho Xue-wen, both Level-One Chinese actors, were invited to reshape the Kunqu version of “Guei-fen Getting Drunk” so that the Kunqu classic could be once again appreciated by audiences. The outstanding composer, Lu Liang-huei, created new pieces and arranged the accompaniment, truly enriching this reproduction with wonderful music.