Forgotten opera gem restored

Ma Yuqi says his preparation for the classic Peking Opera work Mei Yu Pei makes him feel like a new student again, full of energy and passion.

What made Mei Yu Pei special was its dazzling costumes and humorous story. "It was more like an eye-catching fashion show, because all the parts change into four or five costumes," he says. "Compared with other traditional Peking Opera works, Mei Yu Pei was a pioneer leading the new trends."

Born to a noble Manchu family in Beijing, Ma has carried on his family's tradition of collecting antiques. He bought his first antique fan at 14. He also likes collecting calligraphy and art. But his biggest passion is collecting Peking Opera costumes and accessories.

As it has long been his dream to perform Mei Yu Pei, Ma will display his treasures in the show, including gowns made from kesi, a unique silk-weaving technique, a pleated skirt from the Qing Dynasty, a gold-filigree ornament of headdress and turquoise beads.

"All the embroidery has been done by hand, and the clothing comes from the Qing Dynasty. We want to take the audience back 100 years, with genuine clothes and authentic Peking Opera," he says. "When I put on those clothes and ornaments, I feel like I have stepped back in time."

Because there are no video or audio records of the original version of Mei Yu Pei, Ma has invited 76-year-old scriptwriter Xia Yongquan to rewrite the story, which will compact the two-day opera into three hours.

He also invited his old friends—Peking Opera veterans 67-year-old Wen Ruhua, 77-year-old Kou Chunhua and 73-year-old Jiang Changyi—to perform in the show.

"We have to recite all the lines and moves from the beginning because it is our first time performing it. I feel like a new student again, full of energy and passion," says Ma.