Yimeng

ABallet in Three Chapters

 

Produced and Presented by National Ballet of China

Executive Director, Producer: Feng Ying

Executive Supervisor: Wang Quanxing

Librettists: Liu Tingyu, Xu Gang

Composer: Liu Tingyu

Director and Choreographer: Xu Gang

Stage Designer: Wang Duo

Lighting Designer: Liu Zhao

Costume Designer: He Xiaoxin

Make-up and Style Designer: Xu Bin

Video by Hou Songlin and Zhang Yi

Répétiteurs: Liu Qi,Yu Bo

Premiere: April 19^th to 22^nd 2019

 

Consultant of Visual Effects: Li Hui (Guest)

The Script Written by Shi Wei

Music Editing by Chen Si (Guest)

Costume Supervisor: Yue Songshan

Project Coordinator: Gao Hong

 

Special Thanks to 

CPC Linyi Municipal Committee PropagandaDepartment

Linyi Culture and Tourism Bureau

LinyiLiuqin Opera Inheritance and Protection Center

CPC Yinan County Committee

Yinan County People’s Government

CPC Yinan County Committee Propaganda Department

Yinan County Culture and Tourism Bureau

Yimeng Red Sister Memorial Hall

CPC Mamuchi Town Committee of Yinan County

Mamuchi Town People’s Government of Yinan County

Shandong Yimeng RevolutionaryFilms and Televisions Shooting Base

Menglianggu Campaign MemorialHall

Shandong Yimeng Caligraphyand Painting Institute

Beijing Jingzhe Film Co. Ltd

Beijing Marriott ExecutiveApartments

Yang Lin, Zhou Ping, BaiYangmengyao

 

 

Music Recording: National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra

Concert Master: Wang Xiaomao

Vocal Solo: Wang Qingshuang (Guest)

Choir: China National Opera House Choir (Guest)

Stage Production: Stage Production Department of NBC

Inscription by Yu Junjian

 

From the choreographer

Whilecelebrating the 70^th anniversary of the founding of the People’sRepublic of China, we cannot forget the countless heroes and martyrs who foughttill their last breath for the bright future of Chinese people. Neither can weforget our great people who gave their lives and blood to protect ourbrother-like soldiers. True stories which occurred in Yimeng mountains duringthe war revealed a group of selfless, devoted Red Sisters. With their greatintegrity and big love, they made a bond of flesh and blood with our army. Itis our duty and obligation to tell the young generation about their stories andpay a tribute to their characters. Let’s inherit andtighten this bond. Let’s pass the spirit of Yimeng togenerations beyond.

 

Yimeng

A Ballet in ThreeChapters

 

Prologue

 

Morenoble than the Meng Mountains,

Thespirit of Yimeng shines forever bright.

Deeperthan the Yi River,

Thebond between army and people flows forever strong.

Inthe rising sun of the new Republic,

Burnsthe blood and spirit of our martyrs.

Onthe revered memorial of revolution,

Theheroic love of the 'Red Sisters' is engraved.

 

ChapterI: Bridge under Fire

 

Inearly summer of 1947,

Avillage courtyard was warmed by the setting sun.

Fromwithin the walls of a wartime nursery,

Driftedthe merry sound of children’s laughter.

Runningout from the doorway,

Afew mischievous boys were chased by a smiling Red Sister.

 

Guifang,a local director of women’s national salvation association,

Accompaniedby Er’ni, a secretary of her literacy class,

madetheir light-hearted rounds of the village.

Ina homestead to the east, a mistress and her daughter in law were milling rice;

Ina house to the west, a pregnant sister was milling flour;

Atthe south end, beneath a doorway,

Satan old grandmother making shoes;

Andin the shade of the trees on the north end, people were gathering before theblackboard for their literacy class.

 

Smilesand laughter from every corner,

Painteda scene of happy industry.

Fromthe frontlines came news of victory,

Liberated,the wives and young girls danced for joy.

Ourmen joined the army with patriotic pride.

Whilewe worked hard to be their support on the home-front.

 

Suddenthunder stormed the peaceful dusk.

Thoughmiles away, the boom of explosions still blasted the ear.

Andthe heavy tension hung like dark clouds,

Overthe hearts of the women.

Withthe galloping of hooves a messenger came,

Reportingthat enemy planes had bombed the bridge

Whichnow lay broken in the rushing waters of the Wen River.

 

Surroundedby our troops on the mountain of Menglianggu,

Theinsolent 74th Division was facing its doom.

Yetnow the battle hung in balance, with an urgent order issued:

'Cross! Cross! Our company is needed on the frontline.'

Withno thought for their own lives,

Sistersswiftly took their door planks and followed Guifang and Er’nito the river banks.

 

Onreaching the bank all were shocked into stillness.

Inthe river’s rushing waters, not a single bridge pier could be found.

Thered flag of the company was visible on the horizon,

Whileenemy planes continued their bombardment.

Bombswere exploding everywhere.

Thesituation was dire.

 

Timewas running out,

Andthis was their only chance.

'Sisters, let’s go!'

Witha shout, Er’ni was the first to jump into the torrent.

Themessenger stomped his foot in despair,

Yetcould not stop the women from building a bridge of flesh and blood.

 

Asthe women battled surging water and flying shrapnel,

Themarching company reached the riverbank.

Butbefore this floating bridge, the commander hesitated,

Watchingthe torrent strike women’s fragile bodies.

No,this was no bridge,

Thiswas the embodiment of unconditional solidarity

Fromtheir sisters of Yimeng.

 

Timewas running out,

Thiswas their only chance.

'Run!' with tears in his eyes, the commandergave the order to charge.

Thesoldiers ran like the wind.

Onthe women’s slight and slender shoulders they were carried to the battlefront.

Thesounds of bombs exploding, water rushing and footsteps running,

Allat once fell into silence.

 

The great war ofliberation,

Hereby witnessed amarvel.

Abovethe water, rushing figures moved with military speed.

Below,stood piers built of life and steadfast will.

Theywere born gentle like water,

Butnow defied the heavens with their courage.

 

Herefire and water unleashed deadly wrath,

Aslife after life was taken by torrent and shrapnel.

Soldiersstepped into the breach as another fell on the bridge.

Womenstood in the water until their last breath.

Stainedcrimson with blood, the motherlike Wen River，

Madethe army flag flame more fiercely with a brighter red.

 

Thecall of the trumpet pierced the heavens,

Asour troops charged towards the victory ahead.

Yetthe flowing water wept.

Thoughthey searched high and low, the sisters could not find Er’ni.

Heryoung life had drifted away with the water.

Driftedaway until she merged with this great land of our own.

 

ChapterII: The Virgin Bride

 

Thespring breeze carried the fragrance of wild flowers,

Asout from the woods ran a bride in red dress.

Ourtroops, passing by, raised their voices in song.

Whichamong these was her bridegroom?

Wondering,she tripped, and a soldier helped her up,

Butneither one knew they had met their other half.

 

Soit was that she left in hope and returned in despair,

Backto her empty house to wait for his return.

'You were still at the frontline on our wedding day.

Soas tradition claimed, it was with a rooster that I took my vows.

Runningmy hands over the red bridal veil,

Andhoping that, some night perhaps, we would meet in my dreams.'

 

Beneaththe shroud of moonlight and the shadow of trees,

Shefinally met her bridegroom and confided her affection.

'With your arms around me, your laughter is clear as a bell,

Yetyour face is still covered as if behind a cloud.

Thereare a thousand things I want to say,

Howfrustrating that you are so near and yet still so far away. '

 

Thenight was long and tender,

Butwas chased away by the crow of the rooster.

Startled,I woke each day from a tear stained pillow,

asif in a daze waiting through the years.

Puttingon my coat I ran towards the hill,

Hopingto hail your returning company someday.

 

 'Againand again, our troops have returned over that same hill.

Yetwhy have I never once seen you in their marching lines?

Inmy mind I hear the rampage of battle.

Inmy mind I see the fall of my hero.

Thebloody scene sends a terror through my heart.

Areyou well? Will you still make it back to our village?'

 

Chasedby the unforgiving years youth was fleeing,

Astime passed by in their flying.

Amemorial tablet now stood in the old wedding chamber,

Andstill in her hands she held the red bridal veil, a cherished souvenir.

'I am still here in this house,

Keepingcompany with the groom I never met.'

 

 'Yourfigure appears in the candle light,

Astall as I saw in the dreams of so many nights.

Holdingmy soft body in your arms,

Youcelebrate our victory with song and dance.

Youtell me that a happy life is ahead.

Youwill always be with me, there is no need for tears.'

 

 'Yourwords echo in my heart,

Ifold the veil to make a red flower beside the tablet.

Mylove, your soul watches over our home,

Youwill keep me safe, there is nothing I fear.

AndI will guard this home and take care of your parents,

Iwill stay your bride until the end of time.'

 

ChapterIII: Passions of Yimeng

 

1

Thedawn of victory was not yet arrived,

Andthe dark cloud of war still spewed forth blood and fire.

400,000enemies were wielding their guns,

Threatenedto crash the liberated Yimeng of 800 miles.

Ourheroic soldiers would not let this pass,

Standingresolutely, their bodies forming our strong lines of defence.

 

Evilbombs exploded savagely on the battlefield,

Darkeningthe grass with our soldiers’ blood.

Willingly,they sacrificed their lives to protect the civilians behind.

Withlast drops of blood, they held the flag upright.

Thefierce battle came to a pause,

Withno soul active on this scorched ridge.

 

Withthe sighing of the pines, silence fell over the frontline,

Worriedover our soldiers, Sister Ying came to clear up the battlefield.

Everywhere,severed and broken limbs were scattered,

andin every corner lay pools of blood and piles of bodies.

Inshock and fear, Sister Ying dropped her basket and water cans.

Filledwith tears, she checked the bodies one by one.

'Let me save them! Let me save them! Even if it’s just the one!'

 

Thegroan of a platoon commander drew Sister Ying’s attention.

Holdingthis young hero in her arms, she looked him over carefully.

Shrapnelhad torn through his skin, leaving a mess of flesh and blood,

'Water, water…' a vague moan came from thehero’s hoarse throat.

Seeingthe broken water cans, Sister Ying was filled with regret.

'Where can I find water on this desolate ridge?'

 

Nearto death, the platoon commander badly needed hydration,

Butthere was no time to move him down from the ridge.

Tornwith anxiety, Sister Ying was in torment.

'There is still one choice left…

Buteven to save him, can I truly feed this man from my breast?'

Theold moral codes were like a sword of Damocles,

Andgossip was sharper than a fine edged boning knife.

 

 'Butremember who these young men are fighting for.

Withoutthem we would be set back to starvation once more.

Thinkabout our past misery as oppressed children.

Onlythe Party can save us from this feudal prison. '

Thelife of a hero was worth more than outdated notions of honor.

Sheuntied her coat and determinedly held the injured man in her arms!

 

2

 'Ared glow comes from the fire in the stove.

AsI make chicken soup for the soldier closer than kin

Addfirewood from Meng Mountain to stoke the fire.

Andwater from the Yi River,

Solong as the water flows, so long too shall our friendship endure.

Recoversoon, dear soldier,

Andreturn to the frontline to fight for our freedom.'

 

SisterYing sang with her heart,

Andher slim figure danced in the yard.

Forour soldier she emptied her stores，

Killedher last chicken to make a healing broth.

Strengthand health came back to our soldier,

Whowas eager to return once again to the battle.

 

Thedepth of his gratitude was deeper than the ocean.

Thebond between them more enduring than the waters of Yi River.

Holdingthe hands of Sister Ying,

Hecalled her name in a voice choked with tears.

'One salute, and then I go to the battlefield,

WhenI come back victorious, I will take care of your family as my own.'

 

3

Ona bright spring day, the sound of gong and drums broke the air.

Andloud songs filled the village to cheer our army.

Thedawn of victory was ahead,

RedSisters saw off their uniformed husbands.

Tyingred flowers on their chests,

Thepeople would always stand behind their own troops.

 

Theheroic platoon commander returned to the village,

Butsaw no sign of his savior, though Sisters pointed him to her house.

SisterYing came with a trolley of supplies.

Notseeing her soldier, she became fraught with concern.

'So many months have passed, will he still be well?

Thebattlefield is dangerous, pray heaven keep him safe.'

 

Fromfaraway came a distant call,

Andthere was the platoon commander, waving his arms in joy.

Witha passionate hug,

Thetwo were reunited.

Bowingdeeply to express his gratitude,

Thesoldier took Sister Ying’s hands in his own.

Nowords were enough to express how he felt.

 

Thehorn of assembly was sounding

ButSister Ying’s words warmed the depths of his soul.

'Brother, go to the frontline with an easy heart,

Ihave sheets and shoes for the pack on your shoulder.

OurParty is like the red sun on the horizon,

Leadingour people of Yimeng to liberation. '

 

Epilogue

 

Mightyas the Yimeng Mountain,

Thespirit of the Red Sisters has been passed on by every generation.

Thebond between army and people will last unbreaking.

Ouralliance shall build a new era of prosperity for our nation.

 

 

I Hope OurDear One Can Recover Soon

 

MengMountain is high and Yi River is long.

The Partyis where the army and the people’s hearts belong,

Like aheart so red longing for the Sun.

 

A red glow comes fromthe fire in the stove.

As I make chicken soupfor the soldier closer than kin

Add firewood from MengMountain to stoke the fire.

And water from the YiRiver,

So long as the waterflows, so long too shall our friendship endure.

Recover soon, dearsoldier,

And return to thefrontline to fight for our freedom.

 

Milk of thepeople and blood of our soldier,

Milk of thepeople and blood of our soldier,

Milk meltsinto the blood.

The bondbetween the army and the people is deeper than the ocean.

The bondbetween the army and the people is deeper than the ocean.

 

Themountain of Yimeng, the mountain of heroes.

Countlessred flags flutter over lofty mountains.

The armyand the people are one family of flesh and blood.

Unitedtogether they march forward.

Unitedtogether they march forward.

Forward!

Forward!

Unitedtogether they march forward.

 

 

Chanson ofYimeng

 

Everyonesays good things about Yimeng Mountain,

About thebeautiful scenery of Yimeng Mountain.

 

Greenmountains and jade-like rivers are treats in the eyes.

Cattles andgoats appear when wind makes the grass bow.

 

Sorghumturns red and rice flowers expire fragrance.

Loads ofgrains fill the barns full.