Yang was born into poverty, but had already risen to the heights of Taiwanese Opera when we spoke to her. Known for performing xiaosheng (young male) roles, she sang beautifully, moved with tremendous grace, and had a very expressive face. Her skills, coupled with gorgeous costumes and lavish sets, attracted new audiences to Taiwanese Opera, and pushed its television viewership to record highs.
In 1981, Yang performed at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall for the first time. The performance made her fear that Taiwan was losing its native opera, prompting her to persuade Taiwan Television Enterprise (TTV) to provide funding for Taiwan’s first Taiwanese Opera training academy. Yang herself went on to handle much of the planning for the school’s opening.
TTV director Huang Yigong once observed that the stages of Yang’s life had mirrored the changes in Taiwan over the previous 30 years: the difficulties in the immediate aftermath of the return from Japanese to Chinese rule, the commitment to development, and the later peace and plenty acquired through hard work.
Singer Feng Fei-fei was also enormously popular in that era. She had a simplicity and naturalness that complemented her beautiful voice—fans of her music praised her “girl next door” air—and she later branched out into acting and hosting TV programs.
Her enthusiasm for performing at benefits and her popularity with overseas Chinese, who adored her stylish hats, made her a frequent ROC representative at concerts for expatriates. Many fans remember her catchphrase, “Thank you so much,” to this day.
Renowned as the “Queen of Hats,” Feng was also known as the “Workers’ Angel” and the “Ambassador of Charity.”
Such gender bending is a distinctive characteristic of the art form. The unisex garb of Feng Fei-fei, the “Queen of Hats,” inspired many an imitator.
Yang Li-hua devoted herself to spreading the art of Taiwanese Opera; Feng Fei-fei’s performances provided solace to innumerable overseas Chinese. Both played important roles in the development of Taiwan’s television industry.
Yang Li-hua devoted herself to spreading the art of Taiwanese Opera; Feng Fei-fei’s performances provided solace to innumerable overseas Chinese. Both played important roles in the development of Taiwan’s television industry.
