It took place during the Warring States (Chun-Qiu) Period in ancient China, ca 722-481 BC. "The Orphan of Zhao" (also entitled "The Supreme Sacrifices of Eight for One") is based on the historical episode involving the massacre of the Zhao family. The story depicts the spirit of patriotism, self-sacrifice and loyalty of a court doctor, Chen Yin, along with seven others to save the surviving grandson of priminister Zhao Dun under the tyranny rule of Jin Ling Gong in the Jin Kingdom. King Jin immersed himself in earthly pleasures of beautiful women, wine and music. He neglected his governing duties, and allowed his ministers to vie and usurp power. A power-thirsty general Tu An Gu was diabolically opposed by the righteous and loyal minister Zhao Dun and his compatriot, General Wei Jian. Cunning Tu managed to convince King Jin to have general Wei dispatched to guard the Northern frontier. He then tried to have minister Zhao killed first by wild dogs then by an assassin. Both attemptes falled because the assassin learning that minister Zhao was an honorable and loyal official, rather sacrificed himself than to harm Zhao. In a rage Tu then framed Zhao for revolting against King Jin and killed Zhao in the pretext of defending the King. He issued Tu decree of the massacre of all Zhao family members, 300 of them in all ages so as to terminate the Zhao lineage. As a consequence, Zhao, a faithful minister, and his whole family, inclusive of four generations, were all executed. Princess Zhung Ji, who was married into the Zhao family, was spared and became house-arrested in the royal palace.

Chen Yin, a loyal and righteous court doctor, noticed that Princess Zhung Ji was preganant before the tragedy was occured. He bravely promised Princess Zhung and her husband, Zhao Shou, in the palace to save the orphan after the baby is born. Chen Yin bravely sneaked out the infant orphan of Zhao of well-guarded palace. Tu, failing to find the Princess'infant and driven by the desire to eliminate all Zhao's ordered all infants under three months of age killed. Chen Yin, realizing that Tu would never give up searching for the infant Zhao, decided to sacrifice his own infant son Jin Ge as the Princess' infant. He solicited the help of an aging loyal minister Gong Sun Tsu Jiou. Gong Sun, knowing that this would cost his life, offered to pretend that he was the one that sneaked the infant Zhao out of the palace to his own house. Chen Yin then reported the incidence to Tu, who retrieved the wrong infant from Gong Sun's house. Chen Yin helplessly watched his own infant son being killed by Tu. To ensure the infant Zhao's safety, Chen Yin further offered infant Zhao as his own son to Tu as Tu's godson. Young Zhao thus survived the cruel prosecution of Tu and grew into adulthood. Young Zhao eventually was told the truth, reunited with his Princess mother, and revenged for his family by killing Tu.

This opera depicts the rivalry between the good and the evil, the intrigue of cunnings, contrasted by the heroism of honest spirits, in no less magnitude than that of "Macbeth" or "Hamlet" in the Shakespearean theater, or "Faust" of the Wagnerian operas. As the story unfolds, the audience will be led through episodes vividly depicted by beautiful arias, filled with emotions of hidden internal sufferings and operatic dramas, as the plot within plot develops, which make this opera ever so memorable and everlasting!

This opera, consisted of eleven scenes, will be sung by Penny Cheng-Hua Wang performed as Chen Yin in collaboration with a top ranking world rennouced cast from The Beijing Opera Troupe, by special invitation from Beijing, as well as the top ranking orchestral artists from China.

This opera will be presented in the evening of September 19th, 2003, at 8:00 PM at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City, New York. Tickets are currently available by mail or phone order. We promise you a wonderful, memorable evening of Peking opera classic, so please contact us and reserve your seats as early as possible to not miss a great performance.

NYJPW Founders John & Cheng-Hua Wang have working on this production since 2001. John Wang likes the story representing for the spirit of super love and sacrifices for the royal family, the hardship of raising the orphan and the encouragement of final reunion. The rightness and truth always stands out for itself. Cheng-Hua has changed her normal singing style of Yu to New Ma style (Created and promoted by Ma Cheung Lai) and learned all the performing techniques from NYJPW Director Zhang Shu, who graduated from Beijing Opera Troupe and is the best pupil of Master Ma Cheung Lai. Cheng-Hua has tried emotionally involving herself to act as Chen Yin. It is a challenge for Cheng-Hua since she has to using body actions and facial emotional expressions in conveying the story. Cheng-Hua performs Chen Yin from age of 40 to age of 55. Cheng-Hua belives herself as the character of Chen Yin when she is on the stage. Special honorary acknowledgments are due to the producer John Wang, and to the director Zhang Shu. The latter has made extra effort in teaching Cheng-Hua Wang in the performing of Chen-Yin for over one year.

With the great pleasure, John & Cheng-Hua Wang have invited Master of New Ma Style, Ma Cheung Lai and Mrs. Ma (Siu Wong Yuk Yung) come to New York to see the performance in person. Master Ma will also receive the "Lifetime Achievement for the Arts Award" from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Chinese-American Arts Council and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. John & Cheng-Hua have invited many outstanding artists from Beijing Chinese Opera Troupe in Beijing to join this performance. Many extraordinary Chinese Opera artists at New York City will also join the performance. The production staff is more then 80 members. The brand new customs and stage props have been specially made from Beijing, Shanghai and New York. This performance represents the greatest effort that John and Cheng-Hua have put forth since the establishment of NYJPW. NYJPW entire production staff devotes its expertise to ensure that the presentation of this grand opera will be as memorable and as always successul!