Performer hits heights of excellence

Liang was trained to portray the role of daomadan, a female warrior character in Chinese opera akin to the heroic figures of Mulan. These roles require martial arts skills, singing, acting, and stylized movements, making them among the most physically demanding female roles in Chinese theater.

However, in her portrayal of Jingwei, Liang had to switch between various roles, each representing a different aspect of the character's emotional journey. For instance, when Jingwei seeks permission from her parents to investigate a coastal disaster, Liang performs in huadan style, embodying a lively, clever young woman. Later, as Jingwei bids a sorrowful farewell to her parents in a long, emotionally charged singing passage, Liang adopts the qingyi style, portraying a dignified, mature character.

Jingwei's transformation, from an innocent princess to a tragic heroine and finally, to a warrior spirit, is reflected in her four distinct personalities. The final scene, full of intense action, showcases her strength in the daomadan role, which demands martial arts prowess, a specialty of Liang's.

The production of Jingwei Fills the Sea received high praise, particularly from younger audiences captivated by its energy and intensity.

"They never imagined that traditional Chinese opera could be this thrilling," says Lin Weilin, the director of the Puju Opera production. "Ancient cultural arts are not outdated; they just require continual efforts in adapting them for modern audiences.

"Innovation must honor the essence of the art form," Lin continues, highlighting a particularly memorable scene in which Liang performs an acrobatic sequence of flips and kneeling slides while singing, followed by over 30 lines of vocals — an incredible display of her vocal and physical skills.

Lin, who heads a Kunqu Opera troupe and won the Plum Performance Award in 1985, is also a veteran Kunqu Opera artist.

For Liang, the award is not only a personal triumph but a testament to the enduring power of traditional Chinese theater and the unyielding dedication of those who keep it alive, the director adds.

Ren Genxin, a veteran Puju Opera actress and former head of the Linfen Puju Opera Troupe, says that since the 1960s, the theater has long fostered young talent through the "Little Plum Blossom Puju Troupe".This troupe, established 20 years ago, presents many talented young performers, including Liang, to ensure the legacy of Puju Opera continues to thrive.