The Yue area is home to many waters. These rivers and lakes have given birth to countless legends, which in turn form the basis for the stories Yue opera has to tell.The Yue area is home to many melodies. Some are soothing tunes that offer picturesque images of streams and clouds flowing gently past; others tell the stories of the world, stories of bliss and of misery, of that which makes us human.

The Yue area is home to many love stories. All these stories bring to life the sincerity of love, at the same time delivering messages full of bold moral integrity. Yue opera is the second most popular form of Chinese opera. And all roles in Yue opera are sung by female performers.

Yue opera, originating from a region of southern China once known as the State of Yue, first began in the early nineteenth century as a form of storytelling native to Sheng County of Zhejiang Province. Yue opera absorbed elements from Kun opera, Shao opera, drama, and several other art forms, and over the course of a few decades reached the splendor that it possesses today.

In the early years Yue opera was performed entirely by male peasants, but then in 1923 a man named Shi Jia’ao established the first all-female Yue opera troupe, and they soon became a sensation. The 1930s saw many more female-only Yue opera troupes, and the Sigong style, which is most suitable for the female voice, became the main style of Yue opera. The adept singers could perform both male and female roles, and were talented actresses with impressive voices. The arias they chose and the lyrics they sang were quite well-suited to the time, so these female Yue opera troupes eventually became the mainstream of the entertainment scene. Although male actors do make an occasional appearance on the stage in Yue opera performances, the unconventional charm of female portrayals of roles like Xiaosheng is what really puts Yue opera in a class of its own.

Prince Qian, full of charm and grace, is the epitome of the well-mannered gentleman. But offstage he—actually, she—gives a gleaming smile, revealing her true femininity. She is a famous Xu-style female Xiaosheng performer, national class-A actress, vice-president of the Shanghai Yue Opera Theater, as well as director of the Red Mansion Opera Troupe. Her hometown, just like the beauty Xi Shi, is in Zhuji of Zhejiang Province. Starting from her first performances of Red Mansion when she was a child, she has spent more than thirty years on stage, and her portrayals of ancient Chinese royals have earned her the nickname “Prince Qian”. Rhymoi Music, who in recent years has produced popular collections of Chinese arias including Dream of an Opera, and Drunken Beauty, presents this compilation of Qian Huili’s strongest performances. The compilation includes 22 of Prince Qian’s most famous songs, with new vocal and orchestral recordings. This collection of classic arias is sure to be a new favorite for Chinese opera enthusiasts.

Prince Qian has played many classic roles, and her performances have been praised time and time again. Her portrayal of Jia Baoyu, the male lead in Dream of the Red Mansion and a refined and dignified gentleman, has become a favorite of Red Mansion fans. Some of her other memorable performances include the love-struck Zhang Junrui, the forlorn scholar Pan Bizheng. Prince Qian’s many personas are collected on this album so that you may enjoy them as often as you please.

For this compilation we enlisted a team of top musicians from the Shanghai Yue opera scene to perform the original instrumental recording. Recording artist Li Dakang, one of the foremost in all of Asia, oversaw the live recording sessions at Shanghai Film Technology Studios; and mixing and mastering were provided by Stockfisch Records of Germany.

The melodies of Yue opera are elegant and soothing. We sincerely hope you enjoy this collection of masterpieces, brought to life by the one and only Prince Qian.