Once celebrated Yue Opera duo Junxiao, famed for their on-stage chemistry, now take separate career paths, leaving fans to reflect on their once legendary partnership.
It’s truly poignant to think that Jun and Xiao—who once portrayed the love and hatred of the “Twelve Beauties of Jinling” with such depth and conviction on the Yue opera stage—have now reached a point where they go out of their way to avoid each other whenever they meet.
In 2023, clips from the Yue Opera production *The New Dragon Gate Inn* went viral across the internet. On stage, Chen Lijun stood with a sword in hand, her brows arched, exuding a bold and dashing spirit,Li Yunxiao swept her water sleeves lightly, bringing to life the charming and spirited character of Jinxiangyu. The perfect chemistry and harmony between the two, both on and off stage, left an indelible impression of this golden duo in the hearts of countless opera fans.
Who could have imagined that the two, who once stood shoulder to shoulder rehearsing their lines word for word, would later deliberately keep a half-meter distance between them on stage, and even go out of their way to avoid each other from afar when they met in private.
Signs that
the two would go their separate ways had actually been evident for some time. When business offers and variety show opportunities came pouring in, Chen Lijun accepted a packed schedule of engagements and forged ahead on a path of cross-industry development in film, television, and variety shows;Li Yunxiao, on the other hand, shut down all external business collaborations and devoted himself entirely to the theater troupe, immersing himself in refining the physical movements and vocal techniques of traditional plays.
When a reporter once asked about their partnership during an interview, Chen Lijun replied that professional actors are never limited to a single partnership; Li Yunxiao, speaking clearly into the microphone, stated that the two of them were partners for life.
It
all started simply with the two of them choosing different career paths, but their respective fan bases became increasingly embroiled in heated disputes. What had once been a pure bond of camaraderie gradually soured amid the endless bickering.Veterans of the
opera world often say that an opera performer’s roots are forever anchored at the center of the stage. The flowers of fame and fortune may appear vibrant and dazzling, but if one’s footing is unsteady, the fall will be painfully harsh.
Longtime theatergoers have witnessed countless examples of once-close partners in the opera world drifting apart—some lost their way in the pursuit of fame and fortune, while others simply followed their own chosen paths. The intricacies and twists of these situations are not something outsiders can easily judge.
Back in the day, the way the two of them mirrored each other’s every expression and gesture on stage left a lasting impression on anyone who witnessed it. If you’ve shared similar impressions, feel free to stick around and share your thoughts.
