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Li Yugang

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Li Yugang
李玉刚
Yang Guifei in "Portrait of Four Beauties.(2011)
Yang Guifei in "Portrait of Four Beauties.(2011)
Background information
Birth nameLi Gang (李刚)
Also known asMr. Yu (玉先生)
Born (1978-07-23) July 23, 1978 (age 46)
Gongzhuling, Jilin, China
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, stage actor
InstrumentVocals
Years active2006–present
LabelsJade (玉泽东方)
Websitehttps://weibo.com/n/李玉刚
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese李玉剛
Simplified Chinese李玉刚
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Yùgāng
In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.

Li Yugang (Chinese: 李玉刚; pinyin: Lǐ Yùgāng; born July 23, 1978) is a Chinese singer, artist, the soloist of China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater and national first class actor. He specialises in "nándàn" (男旦) roles, which is male who plays female role in Peking opera and is also known for his ability to sing in both male and female voices. Li has released a number of CDs.

Today, the range of Li Yugang's influence extends far beyond the entertainment world, opening up new dialogues among critics of contemporary music, theatre and aesthetics, and has become an icon in China's contemporary cultural scene. Beyond his professional and international accolades, Li is known as a celebrity in his own hometown, Gongzhuling in Jilin, and is respected for his generous donations and help to local charity organisations, especially in education. A very modest man who is aware that he has not had the rigorous training of traditional Peking opera, he is constantly studying and passionately committed to make China's rich cultural heritage accessible both to the young generation and to audiences around the world.

Early life

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Li was born into a farming family in Jilin province in 1978. His parents were too poor to send him to college even though he was accepted by the provincial Art College. He worked in various jobs in Changchun after finishing high school.[1]

Li went to Xi'an to work as a waiter in an entertainment club after he became jobless in Changchun for a full year. He was fascinated by the singers whom he came across for the first time in his life. Soon, he was allowed to sing a few songs and became a club singer. His breakthrough came when one day a female colleague didn't show up and he had to take her place singing in female voice.[1] "That's how I started with female roles" recalled Li Yugang. His talent to sing both male and female voices impressed the audience. The owner of the establishment hired him full-time and he started to have a proper job. From 1998 to 2006, he began to be trained professionally and to develop his singing and acting in nan dan (male plays female role in Peking Opera).[2]

Career

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Diao Chan in "Portrait of Four Beauties

Early years

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In 2006, Li came to prominence after he came third in the Star Boulevard (星光大道), a nationwide talent competition programme on CCTV.[3] His performance in "Farewell My Concubine" (霸王别姬) and "The Drunken Beauty" (贵妃醉酒), both from the famous Peking Opera made him an overnight sensation. He became a highly sought-after performer afterwards.

The following year, Li became an unprecedented success when he gave his first solo performance in Beijing: "Where Flowers are Unbounded" (凡花无界). In April 2008, Li made a special performance in the "2008 United Nations Spring Cultural Festival" at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.[4] In 2009, he was invited to join the "China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater" and was awarded "National First-Class Actor"(National Treasure).[2] In that same year, Li Yugang was invited to perform at Sydney Opera House in Australia, the second Chinese artist to have done so, and was awarded Southern Cross Gold Prize for Culture by the Australian Government.

Stage

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For stage performance, Li created "Flower in Mirror, Moon in Water" (镜花水月) in 2010 and "The Painting of Four Beauties" (四美图) in 2011. Together he performed over 100 shows in the country and internationally. In 2015, Li Yugang directed and starred in his own stage masterpiece "Lady Zhaojun" (昭君出塞), a grand Oriental Poetic Stage production which took him three years in preparation.[5] "Lady Zhaojun" premiered in Beijing on April 16–19, 2015.

On 26 April 2019, a brand-new musical adaptation of "Lady Zhaojun" premiered at Beijing Tianqiao Art Center, and then launched a global tour in June. As of 8 Dec. 2019, "Lady Zhaojun" has toured 46 performances at home and abroad.[6]

In 2023, "Lady Zhaojun" plans to restart the tour.[7]

Music

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In 2010, Li Yugang released his debut album "The New Drunken Beauty" (新贵妃醉酒), and then released "Dream-chasing Chant" (逐梦令) and "Lotus" (莲花). In 2014, the Rhymoi Music company released Li Yugang's "Once Upon a Time in Shanghai" (民国旧梦) CD album.

On 10 November 2016, the single "Happened to meet you" (剛好遇見你) was released for the 10th anniversary of his debut and the self-titled album was released in 2017. "Happened to meet you" stayed on the music charts for 10 weeks, and the music video for the song reached over 100 million views on YouTube. After that, he started the tour of "Li Yugang's 10-year Classic Concert" (李玉剛十年經典演唱會) on 17 Dec. 2016.[8]

By now(2023), Li Yugang has released nearly a hundred singles, mainly in Chinese style. He has also blended variety styles like R&B,  rap and electronic elements into his music.

Cross-Border

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In addition to being a stage actor and singer, Li Yugang has also branched out into writing, planning and holding cultural gatherings, promotion of ceramic culture, and film director.

In November 2016, his first literary work "The beauty I met" (玉見之美) which recorded his pilgrimage to China's intangible cultural heritage with words and pictures was published.[9] At the end of 2016, Li 's art space "Jade Space" (玉空間) was completed in Beijing, extending his love and obsession with traditional culture from stage art to life aesthetics.[10] In May 2021, after the "Jade Space" in Beijing and Suzhou, Li Yugang's porcelain culture-themed art space - "Jade Workshop" (玉工坊) was unveiled in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province.[11]

In 2019, the short film "A Date After Twilight", Li directed and starred, was set as the opening film of the 86358 Short Film Exchange Week hosted by Jia Zhangke Art Center.[12] On 30 March 2023, Li has begun filming his feature directorial debut "Nostalgia in the Cloud" (雲上的雲).[13]

Stage works

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  • 2010 "Flower in Mirror, Moon in Water" (镜花水月)[14]
  • 2011 "The Painting of Four Beauties" (四美图)[14]
  • 2012 "The new Flower in Mirror, Moon in Water" (新镜花水月)
  • 2019 "Lady Zhaojun" (昭君出塞)[15]

Director's works

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Year Title English Title Credited as Type
2023 雲上的雲 Nostalgia In The Clouds Director, Writer, Actor Feature film
2019 人約黃昏後 A Date After Twilight Director, Actor Short film
2017 般若號角 Prajna Horn Director, Actor Musical
2015 昭君出塞 Lady Zhaojun Director, Actor Musical

Discography

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Singles

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2024
Date Title Eng. Title
2024-02-05 長春 Chang-Chun
2023
Date Title Eng. Title
2023-09-29 九州 Nine Provinces
2023-09-27 絶色江西 Stunning Jiangxi
2023-06-09 刻木成香 Memories of Woodcarving
2023-03-31 刚好遇见你 - 长安幻想 Happened to Meet You - Chang'an Fantasy
2023-01-20 豫見 *Encounter Henan
2023-01-01 山河一脈 *China
2022
Date Title Eng. Title
2022-12-22 暖暖 Warm
2022-12-19 故人酒 Wine for Old Friends
2022-09-17 心憂天下 Worried about the World
2022-09-12 賦得古原草送別 Ode to Farewell in the Ancient Grassland
2022-09-02 阿里郎回故鄉 *Arirang
2022-08-17 鷓鴣天杯滄海 Partridge Sky
2022-06-08 瓷語 Porcelain's Talk
2022-06-03 四方明月 Moonlight Everywhere
2022-05-21 繞 Winding
2022-04-28 誅仙忘塵 ZhuXian - Forget the Mundane World
2022-04-27 把酒問月 Ask the Moon With a Cup of Wine in Hand
2022-04-22 姑蘇 Gu-Su
2022-04-04 清明客 Missing my hometown on Qingming Festival
2022-03-05 新霸王別姬 New Farewell My Concubine
2022-02-21 羽生 Feather Falls for Rebirth
2022-01-27 世界飛馳吧 *Fly Me to the World
2022-01-22 窗花 Paper-cut for Window Decoration
2022-01-21 青城不老 *Qing-Cheng
2022-01-15 華夏 Hua-Xia
2022-01-01 長安行 Changan Trip
2021
Date Title Eng. Title
2021-12-15 追風趕月的你 You who Chase the Wind and the Moon
2021-11-25 定風波 Calming the Storm
2021-11-23 東方不敗 *Swordsman
2021-11-22 經山海 Traveling through The Classic of Mountains and Seas
2021-10-31 俠客行 Ode to Gallantry
2021-09-25 水調歌頭·遊覽 Prelude To Water Melody-Tour
2021-09-17 天下大足 Da-zu
2021-09-12 赤伶(交響樂版) The Red Actors(Symphony Edition)
2021-08-26 一場煙雨 *Misty Rain
2021-08-07 一剪梅 *A Spray of Plum Blossoms
2021-07-03 畫眸 Painting Eyes
2021-07-01 記號 Sign
2021-06-09 歸夢長 Homecoming Dream
2021-05-04 萬疆 Vast Territory
2021-04-08 將軍嘆 General's Sigh
2020
Date Title Eng. Title
2020-12-11 霓裳飛花 Rainbow Skirts Flying Flowers
2020-12-08 古都風色 *Ancient Densing
2020-11-27 一念拂曉 Dawning in a Moment
2020-11-02 茉莉茶歌 The Song of Jasmine Tea
2020-10-21 滿弦 Full Moon
2020-10-03 月半望雲山 Look Over the Cloud-covered Mountains with a Full Moon
2020-09-24 紅昭愿 Zhaojun's Wishes
2020-09-11 花木蘭 *Mulan
2020-08-08 遇見桑羅 Meet SANGLUO
2020-07-31 黍離 Lush Broomcorn Millet
2020-07-18 昭君出塞 Zhaojun Goes Out of The Frontier
2020-06-29 無塵 Out of the World
2020-06-17 白首 *Growing Old Together
2020-06-17 赤伶 The Red Actors
2020-05-14 將進酒 Invitation to Wine
2020-05-06 落緣 Lost Fate
2020-04-18 清明上河圖 Along the River During the Qingming Festival
2020-04-17 善念起 Right Mindfulness Arise
2019
Date Title Eng. Title
2019-12-20 七子新歌 *New Song of Seven Sons
2019-10-27 夢回誅仙 Dream back to ZhuXian
2019-09-08 浮雲散 Floating Clouds Parted
2019-07-23 長春 *Chang-Chun
2019-05-08 我只在乎你 *I Only Care About You
2019-04-06 和項王歌 Ode to Emperor Xiang
2019-02-19 梨花頌 Ode to Pear Blossoms
2019-01-24 傳人 Heirs
2018
Date Title Eng. Title
2018-12-21 月兒彎彎 *Curvy Moon
2018-11-29 夜將至 *Nightfall
2018-11-28 蝶戀 Butterfly Love
2018-10-31 遇見旗袍 *Meet Cheongsam
2018-09-24 我一直在這裏 *I've Been Here
2018-06-02 菩提 Bodhi
2018-05-26 陌上風雅 Field Elegance
2018-04-18 花魁 Oiran
2018-04-09 如初 As Beginning
2018-04-03 寶頂之巔 Top of Bao-Ding Mountain
2018-02-27 獨孤天下 *The Legent of Du-gu
2012-2017
Date Title Eng. Title
2017-11-03 天地有靈 Animism
2016-12-10 天池南 South of Heaven Lake
2016-01-19 國色天香(對唱版) National Beauty (Duet Version)
2015-02-12 李 Li
2015-01-19 再見，貝兒 Farewell, Bei-Er
2014-01-24 國色天香 National Beauty
2014-01-22 日日紅上海 Shanghai Memory
2014-01-22 于是探戈 Let's Tango
2014-01-22 與天使同在 Be with angels
2012-02-28 雨花石 Yuhua Stone

(English titles with "*" are from the official.)

Studio albums

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Date Title Literal English Translation
2021-09-15 《李玉剛合輯》 Li Yugang Compilation
2021-08-26 《李玉剛懷舊集》 Li Yugang Nostalgic Collection
2017-04-05 《剛好遇見你》 Happened to Meet You
2014-12-04 《蓮花》 The Lotus
2014-11-11 《民國舊夢》 Once upon A Time in Shanghai
2011-12-15 《逐夢令》 Dream-chasing Chant
2010-12-28 《新貴妃醉酒》 The New Drunken Beauty (Drunken Concubine)
2010-12-22 《嫦娥奔月》 Chang’e Flying to the Moon
2010-01-01 《遊園驚夢》 Startling Dream (Peony Pavilion)

EP

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Date Title Literal English Translation
2022-11-04 《追風趕月的你》 You who Chase the Wind and the Moon
2021-08-10 《四美圖》 The Painting of Four Beauties
2018-11-07 《禪意三部曲》 *Buddhist Mood Trilogy
2015-02-13 《李》 Li

Live album of Musical

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Date Title Literal English Translation
2012-12-26 《新镜花水月》2012全国巡演原声大碟 "New Flower in Mirror, Moon in Water" 2012 National Tour Original Soundtrack (CD)
2011-12-15 《四美圖》國家大劇院首演實況DVD "The Painting of Four Beauties" Live DVD Premiere at the National Center for the Performing Arts
2011-05-23 《鏡花水月》李玉剛新春演歌會 " Flower in Mirror, Moon in Water" Chinese New Year Concert (DVD)
2011-05-03 《镜花水月》演歌會原聲大碟 "Flower in Mirror, Moon in Water" Concert Original Soundtrack (CD)
2011-04-20 《鏡花水月》2010全球巡演日本演歌會 "Flower in Mirror, Moon in Water" 2010 World Tour in Japan (DVD)

References

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  1. ^ a b Chang Lu (December 16, 2012). "Rising Chinese opera star: Li Yugang". GBTimes.
  2. ^ a b "National company signs Li Yugang". China Daily. China.org.cn. March 11, 2009.
  3. ^ Ruru Li (2010). The Soul of Beijing Opera: Theatrical Creativity and Continuity in the Changing World. Hong Kong University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-9622099951.
  4. ^ "中国青年表演艺术家 李玉刚个人资料及其简介-搜狐娱乐". yule.sohu.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  5. ^ Chen Nan (2011-09-06). "The MAN behind the WOMEN". China Daily.
  6. ^ "诗意歌舞剧《昭君出塞》世界巡演启动仪式在京举行-新华网". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  7. ^ "2023我们剧场见！". Li Yugang Art Studio(李玉刚艺术工作室). Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  8. ^ "李玉刚《刚好遇见你》首发 演唱会将在京开唱_娱乐_腾讯网". 2021-02-03. Archived from the original on 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  9. ^ "李玉刚首部文字作品《玉见之美》出版：深度呈现传统文化之美". culture.taiwan.cn. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  10. ^ 新京报 (2020-09-28). "李玉刚举办茶事雅集，茶文化中融入古琴、昆曲、京剧等艺术". k.sina.cn. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  11. ^ "当李玉刚邂逅千年瓷都，用「玉工坊」书写瓷玉墨香_玉先生". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  12. ^ sina_mobile (2019-08-05). "李玉刚导演处女作《人约黄昏后》86358电影周开幕片". k.sina.cn. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  13. ^ "李玉刚电影导演处女作《云上的云》开机 "我为电影准备了十多年"_YNET.com北青网". ent.ynet.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  14. ^ a b 李齐. "Cross-dressing sensation marches on despite controversies". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  15. ^ susanfarese (2019-11-07). "Chinese Theatrical Production "Lady Zhaojun" Premieres in San Diego 12/1 and 12/2 Starring Multi-Award Singer Li Yugang". SJF Communications- 'Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results'. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
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