Peach Blossom Fan

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Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

Stephin Merritt wrote music and lyrics to this 1699 play, set in the last days of the Ming Dynasty, for a 2004 production by LA's REDCAT, directed by Chen Shi-Zheng. The Los Angeles Times said, “Merritt’s facile and often funny rhymes and breezy Broadway melodic style have an easy, natural flow that Chen then makes complex through his use of florid operatic movements.”

Description

In the last days of the Ming Dynasty, the Manchus are overrunning the kingdom of Jin. Everyone is forced to choose sides while appearing loyal to the power of the moment. “At Madam Plum’s,” a brothel, the courtesans entertain a duplicitous poet Yang Long You (“I Am Yang Long You”) with a “Fan Dance Cha-Cha.” Yang introduces a promising new poet with “This is Hou Fang You.” Madam Plum recites “The Menu.” The newest courtesan is introduced (“This Is Shiang-Jun”). Hou falls in love with her at once (“Shall We Sing a Duet?”), but lacks funds. Enter an evil poet-politician (“I Am Yuen Da Cheng”), who offers an emerald ring (“Sounds Expensive”) to sponsor the young lovers. Shiang-Jun rejects his generosity and the lovers leave together anyway, reprising “Shall We Sing a Duet?” The Governor of Fung Yong province (“I Am Ma Shih Ying”) meets with Yuen to discuss art and politics—specifically, which Emperor to install and which poets to suppress. Madam Plum encourages Shiang-Jun to run away with Hou (“And He Would Say ...”), but he has gone into exile.

Ma, Yang, and Yuen go skiing to celebrate and survey “The View From Above.” At the new palace, their new young puppet Emperor enters to the national anthem “Hail! Son of Heaven,” and laments the dismal state of dramatic entertainment (“It’s Hard to Be the Emperor”). Shiang-Jun attempts suicide (“One Little Flower More or Less”) rather than become the Emperor’s concubine. The courtesans whip out fifteen ukuleles and sing “Ukulele Me!” Still bored, the Emperor sings a bawdy number in the worst taste, “Behold the Lowly Centipede.” Yang encourages the repatriated Hou to join the new power coalition, offering him Shiang-Jun (“And She Would Say ...”).

The political situation deteriorates further and the last general, Shih Ko Fa (“This Is Shih Ko Fa”), fails to protect the Emperor. He commits suicide (“Sorry, Wrong Show”), ending all hope of Jin self rule and ushering in the Manchu Dynasty. As the city burns, Hou sings “The Liberation of Nanjing.” By chance he meets Shiang-Jun. He and Yang each offer her an avenue of escape (“Come Away with Me Now”). Hou’s sympathy with the new barbarian rulers disgusts her (“Barbarians”), and they part forever.

Peach Blossom Fan was written in 1699, by Kung Shang-Ren, who lived through the fall of the Ming Dynasty described in the play. This production of Peach Blossom Fan was originally commissioned by the Center for New Theater at CalArts and received its world premiere at the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in Los Angeles on April 9, 2004. It was REDCAT’s inaugural theatrical presentation. Directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, book by Edward Mast, music and lyrics by Stephin Merritt.

ProductionCredits

MUSICIANS
Cast:
Fran Bennett: Madam Plum
Jon David Casey: Yang Long You
Jon DeRosa: Hou Fang Yu
David Patrick Kelly: Yuen Da-Cheng
Dudley Klute: Shih Ko-Fa
Mary Lou Rosato: Ma Shih-Ying
Shirley Simms: Shiang-Jun
Matthew Steiner: Emperor

Musicians:
Zachary Behrens, marimba
Lillian Chen, yangqin
Ivan Johnson, bass
Daniel Savell, steel drums, bass drum
Ernest Adzentoivich, bass on “Sorry, Wrong Show”

Chorus: Chris Dionaldo, Brittany Dunn, Molly Frieri, Claudia Gonson, Brian Hall, Kelly Hrehovcik, Michael Liscio, David Murgittroyd, Jenna Pasqua, Richard Pepenella, Rob Scherzer, Rachel Witmer, Stephen Yesenosky

Chorus and Ukulele on “Ukulele Me”: LD Beghtol, Jon DeRosa, Claudia Gonson, Anne Harris, Larry Krone, Benjamin Lerman, Sydney Maresca, Kendall Jane Meade, Carla Murray, Jon Natchez

Musical Director: Kimberly Grigsby
Choral Director: Michael Yesenosky

Nonesuch Selection Number

79944

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
ns_album_artistid
226
ns_album_id
613
ns_album_releasedate
ns_genre_1
0
ns_genre_2
0
Album Status
Artist Name
Stephin Merritt
Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
MP3
Price
11.00
UPC
075597994469
  • 79944

News & Reviews

  • The Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt is on BBC World Service’s Music Life with Beirut's Zach Condon and Blondie's Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. They discuss artistic self-expression, the influence of location on songwriting, and what unexpected musical genres have inspired them. You can hear it here. The Magnetic Fields, who just completed a European tour, will tour the US with songs from 69 Love Songs next year for the album's 25th anniversary. Their 2004 Nonesuch debut album, i, was released on vinyl for the first time this past spring.

  • The Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt is on the new Talkhouse podcast series Listening. On the show, curated by Elia Einhorn, artists are invited to share their perspective on how they listen to the world and how that informs the music they make. They also create a new composition for the episode and discuss the creative process behind it. “Witty, guarded, cynical, loving, heartsick, and tender—this is Stephin Merritt, or at least what we hear in the songs he pens for his acclaimed band The Magnetic Fields,” says Einhorn. You can hear their conversation and the song Merritt wrote for the show here. The Magnetic Fields kick off the next leg of their UK and European tour on August 31.

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  • About This Album

    In the last days of the Ming Dynasty, the Manchus are overrunning the kingdom of Jin. Everyone is forced to choose sides while appearing loyal to the power of the moment. “At Madam Plum’s,” a brothel, the courtesans entertain a duplicitous poet Yang Long You (“I Am Yang Long You”) with a “Fan Dance Cha-Cha.” Yang introduces a promising new poet with “This is Hou Fang You.” Madam Plum recites “The Menu.” The newest courtesan is introduced (“This Is Shiang-Jun”). Hou falls in love with her at once (“Shall We Sing a Duet?”), but lacks funds. Enter an evil poet-politician (“I Am Yuen Da Cheng”), who offers an emerald ring (“Sounds Expensive”) to sponsor the young lovers. Shiang-Jun rejects his generosity and the lovers leave together anyway, reprising “Shall We Sing a Duet?” The Governor of Fung Yong province (“I Am Ma Shih Ying”) meets with Yuen to discuss art and politics—specifically, which Emperor to install and which poets to suppress. Madam Plum encourages Shiang-Jun to run away with Hou (“And He Would Say ...”), but he has gone into exile.

    Ma, Yang, and Yuen go skiing to celebrate and survey “The View From Above.” At the new palace, their new young puppet Emperor enters to the national anthem “Hail! Son of Heaven,” and laments the dismal state of dramatic entertainment (“It’s Hard to Be the Emperor”). Shiang-Jun attempts suicide (“One Little Flower More or Less”) rather than become the Emperor’s concubine. The courtesans whip out fifteen ukuleles and sing “Ukulele Me!” Still bored, the Emperor sings a bawdy number in the worst taste, “Behold the Lowly Centipede.” Yang encourages the repatriated Hou to join the new power coalition, offering him Shiang-Jun (“And She Would Say ...”).

    The political situation deteriorates further and the last general, Shih Ko Fa (“This Is Shih Ko Fa”), fails to protect the Emperor. He commits suicide (“Sorry, Wrong Show”), ending all hope of Jin self rule and ushering in the Manchu Dynasty. As the city burns, Hou sings “The Liberation of Nanjing.” By chance he meets Shiang-Jun. He and Yang each offer her an avenue of escape (“Come Away with Me Now”). Hou’s sympathy with the new barbarian rulers disgusts her (“Barbarians”), and they part forever.

    Peach Blossom Fan was written in 1699, by Kung Shang-Ren, who lived through the fall of the Ming Dynasty described in the play. This production of Peach Blossom Fan was originally commissioned by the Center for New Theater at CalArts and received its world premiere at the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in Los Angeles on April 9, 2004. It was REDCAT’s inaugural theatrical presentation. Directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, book by Edward Mast, music and lyrics by Stephin Merritt.