Li Shengsu

Li Shengsu (born February 16, 1966) is a Chinese Peking opera singer-actress who plays Dan roles. She began performing traditional Chinese opera from a young age and is a student of Mei Baojiu and other famous opera performers. She is widely considered a Peking opera superstar and has many renowned performances. Currently, Li Shengsu is the director of Troupe One of China National Peking Opera Company. Li also holds positions in other organizations as well, including being a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In 1979, at the age of thirteen, Li converted to learning Peking opera since the Hebei Vocational Art College was recruiting students for Peking opera. There, under the instructions of Qi Lanqiu (齐兰秋), she began learning how to perform Dan roles such as Tsing Yi (青衣) and Hua Dan (花旦). Upon graduating in 1986, Li was assigned to the Handan Peking Opera Troupe where she served the roles of main performer and leader.

Li Shengsu became a disciple of the opera performer Liu Xiurong (刘秀荣) in 1987. In 1988, Li Shengsu officially joined the Mei (Mei Lanfang) school or style of Peking opera and became a disciple of Mei Baojiu. Mei Baojiu personally taught her performances such as The Drunken Concubine (贵妃醉酒) and The Phoenix Returns Home (凤还巢).

In 1991, Li Shengsu transferred to the Shanxi Peking Opera Theater as lead performer. There she also served as the head of the Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe.

In 1998, Li Shengsu entered the Graduate School of Outstanding Young Actors of Peking Opera for further study. After three years, Li mastered the professional theory of opera performance and graduated with a graduate degree in 2001. In 2001, she also transferred over to the second troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company as a special recruit.

Non-opera films and TV series

Roles and positions

Li Shengsu has held various positions in the Peking opera field and in other areas. She used to serve as leader of the Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe for the Shanxi Peking Opera Theater. She is currently the director of Troupe One of the China National Peking Opera Company after she succeeded Yu Kuizhi to the position on September 18, 2010. She is also a member of the Chinese Dramatist Association as well. Other roles that Li Shengsu holds includes being a member of the 11th and 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. She is also a member of the executive committee of All-China Women's Federations and a member of the standing committee of the All-China Youth Federation.

She also holds the title of national first class performer.