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The Sword
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Night Flight of Lin Chong |
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Night Flight of Lin Chong |
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Zhao, Gang |
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Zhao, Gang |
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The Sword : Night Flight of Lin Chong
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Synopsis of Night Flight of Lin Chong:
By Ben Wang
This Kunqu opera, replete with high poetry, acrobatic dexterity
and musical bravura, is adapted from the Chinese masterpiece
novel The Water Margin. It tells the saga of a large number of
good and honest men forced by poverty and misery, caused by the
corruption of the regime, to form a rebel force in Mount Liang,
which is by the Supreme Lake, during the waning years of the
Northern Song dynasty (960-1127).
Lin Chong, a loyal and upright warrior, is an officer serving
under Gao Qiu, a venal and pernicious minister, whose son's lust
for Lin Chong's wife has led to conspiracies (connived by the
evil father-and-son team) of Lin's murder. According their plot,
Lin Chong is to be sent to the capital under the pretense of an
official assignment, while he is in fact to be killed by some
hired assassins on the way. Lin finds out the plot against him,
kills Gao Qiu and his son, and makes an escape. Meanwhile, the
news of suicide of his beloved wife reaches him. His heart
filled with anguish and bitterness, Lin takes the night flight
to Mount Liang to join the rebels.
Translated Libretto of A Scene from Night Flight of Lin Chong:
By Ben Wang
(Enter Lin Chong. Sings aria.)
Sleepless, I count the last rounds of the night watches --
In despair, I listen to the final drops from the water clock.
Fleeing the pursuing soldiers,
A stateless and destitute man I've become,
When no one can now come to my help.
(Recitative.)
How I wish I could climb up to some height to see my loved one!
Instead, I see only the dark clouds hovering over the bleak
roads.
As no more news will ever come to me from my darling wife,
Woe is me! In this cool season of autumn, time of heartbreaks!
I turn around, and what do I see but the sun dying in the west,
With its ravaged light shining on me, a broken, destitute man!
I shouldn't, but I'll let tears splash from my eyes,
As this grief is too much even for a warrior like me!
I am Lin Chong. My predicament started when I realized that I
had been set up by Gao Qiu and his son, I flew into such a rage
that I executed both devils. Thanks to Master Chai who wrote a
letter in my behalf to the leadership in Mount Liang, I'm
fleeing to join these valiant rebels there. As I daren't travel
during the day, I must take flight in darkness at night.
(Sings.)
As I rest my hand on my precious, fine epee,
Blood and tears I shed have soaked my robe.
Oh, agony is me! Thus fleeing farther and farther away from
home!
Having set my mind on joining all the valiant ones at Mount
Liang,
Why, then, am I still looking back lingeringly at the imperial
court?
Take flight, yes, I must now take flight,
Loyalty to the king and filial piety to my parents no longer my
concerns!
Oh, how endless this long night does seem!
Yes, how the darkness stretches on and on!
I'd like to call on someone for a night of repose -- but, no, I
better not!
In the distance wanes the withered moon,
As furtively I'm speeding by many passes.
Hurriedly, yes, hurriedly I must cross the wilderness.
Luckily I am fittingly well to travel this long journey,
Though with my mind on guard, fearing I may be caught,
Any alarming sound now sending me into an acute panic!
Oh, how all this sorrow and grief
does wear away my golden youth!
(Recitative.)
I see that Mount Liang is right ahead. Here I'm well on my way
to join my brothers!
(Exit.)
(Curtain.)
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