On the stage, Wu Sheng's heroic posture fascinated countless audiences. In the world of Chinese Peking Opera, there is such a name, like a bright star, shining - Li Youbin. Li Youbin, who was born in 1938 in the ancient cultural capital of Beijing, inherited his father's artistic bloodline, followed his father Li Shengbin to Xi art since childhood, and performed on stage since he was 12 years old. He is not only a talented martial arts performing artist, but also burns his artistic passion in the position of opera director, and has made immortal contributions to the inheritance and development of Chinese opera.
Li Youbin began his career in 1949 when he joined the Peking Opera Troupe of the Political Department of the 10th Corps of the Third Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and started as a soldier actor. In 1953, he transferred to the Fujian Peking Opera Troupe as a martial arts actor, and in his subsequent artistic career, he was known for his superb martial arts and abundant stage charm. In 1959, he performed in Shanghai such plays as "Jiepai Guan", "Baishuitan" and "Sijie Village", which can be called a good scene of Peking Opera because of their high quality and good effect. The "Flaming Mountain" staged in Nanjing has been even more prosperous, with dozens of performances in a row, and has become a good story that people talk about.
The role of theater director, Li Youbin began to try in 1971. His choreographed and directed works, such as "The Hate of the King", "Flaming Mountain", "Little Five Righteousness", "True and False Monkey King", etc., all have distinctive personal style and artistic characteristics. Among them, "True and False Monkey King" has toured more than 500 times nationwide, which has been greatly welcomed by the audience, and was adapted into a Peking Opera film in 1982, becoming a box office blockbuster, and frequently broadcast on the ** TV opera channel, winning wide acclaim.
Li Youbin's artistic journey is not limited to China, he has visited Japan three times, and cultural exchange activities, choreographed and directed "Mu Guiying's Great Breaking Liao Soldiers" and "Wukong Bajie Fighting Strongmen" performances in Japan have won enthusiastic responses, and have been warmly loved and highly praised by Japanese audiences.
After his retirement, Li Youbin has not stopped, and is still active in the front line of opera teaching, imparting his experience and performance experience to the younger generation of Peking Opera performers. As a mentor, he imparted countless knowledge and skills to the Chinese Opera Academy, and his teaching work has spread to various Peking Opera troupes, and even as far away as Taiwan, cultivating many Peking Opera talents.
Those who are fortunate enough to experience Mr. Lee's vivid and expressive performing arts and superb directing talent are all impressed by his artistic charm. The inheritance and development of contemporary Chinese Peking Opera and the rise and growth of Fujian Peking Opera Company are always inseparable from Li Youbin's name. The Fujian Peking Opera Company firmly expressed its deep mourning for this outstanding contributor to the art of Peking Opera and the memory of Li Youbin, a master who devoted his life to the art of Peking Opera.