A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

The image of Jiang Jie, with hair down to her shoulders and wearing a red jacket over a blue cheongsam, is well-known among Chinese audiences. At age 14, she was enrolled in Anhui Professional College of Art to study music, where she learned operatic singing and Huangmeixi, a provincial form of traditional Chinese opera. Three years later, she traveled to Beijing to study singing at the China Conservatory of Music and joined the art troupe of the People's Liberation Army Air Force after graduation. Last year, the singer, along with some members of the opera's creative team, visited Zhang Guimei, a teacher working to promote female education in mountainous areas of Yunnan province. "We spent two days teaching the students and teachers to sing songs from the opera and Zhang impressed me because she remembers them all," recalls Wang Li.

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History of this topic

Young Japanese holds deep affection for Peking Opera
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Young Japanese holds deep affection for Peking Opera

China Daily  

Takanori Kobayashi and his tutor Zhang Chunxiang, a Peking Opera artist and founder of Shincyo Theater in Japan, take a picture on Sept 14 in Tokyo. There are few Japanese as dedicated to Peking Opera as I am, and many Chinese people find it surprising, especially since there aren't many enthusiasts of Peking Opera among their own," said Kobayashi. Zhang …

Peking Opera company returns after 68 years to captivate Brazilian audiences
1 month ago

Peking Opera company returns after 68 years to captivate Brazilian audiences

China Daily  

A scene from Peking Opera production Female Generals of the Yang Family. Zhu Lingyu, a young, talented and diligent wusheng, or male martial arts performer, said this piece showcases the traditional "virtual" performance style, where actors vividly depict actions such as navigating darkness through choreographed movements. "When people go to watch a Peking Opera show, they expect to witness a …

Tribute to Peking Opera master's genius
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Tribute to Peking Opera master's genius

China Daily  

Peking Opera artists Hu Wenge, Wei Hai-min and Guo Xiao at the opening ceremony of the Beijing exhibition commemorating the 130th birthday of Mei Lanfang on July 23.CHINA DAILY "In China, magpies are seen as messengers of joy," says Xiang, elaborating on the auspicious details of the curtain patterns. His ninth son, Mei Baojiu, also performed as a nandan, trained …

Tribute to Peking Opera master's genius
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Tribute to Peking Opera master's genius

China Daily  

Peking Opera artists Hu Wenge, Wei Hai-min and Guo Xiao at the opening ceremony of the Beijing exhibition commemorating the 130th birthday of Mei Lanfang on July 23.CHINA DAILY "In China, magpies are seen as messengers of joy," says Xiang, elaborating on the auspicious details of the curtain patterns. His ninth son, Mei Baojiu, also performed as a nandan, trained …

Maoqiang Opera stages a revival
6 months, 1 week ago

Maoqiang Opera stages a revival

China Daily  

Wang Mu'er of the Wulian New Era Maoqiang Art Troupe prepares for a performance in Donghonghe village in Wulian county on May 14. Help at home Financial support from a local entrepreneur has also significantly helped the rapid development of Maoqiang Opera in recent years, Sun says. "Without Dong Yanping, there would be no New Era Maoqiang Art Troupe," she …

Maoqiang Opera stages a revival
6 months, 1 week ago

Maoqiang Opera stages a revival

China Daily  

Wang Mu'er of the Wulian New Era Maoqiang Art Troupe prepares for a performance in Donghonghe village in Wulian county on May 14. Help at home Financial support from a local entrepreneur has also significantly helped the rapid development of Maoqiang Opera in recent years, Sun says. "Without Dong Yanping, there would be no New Era Maoqiang Art Troupe," she …

Youthful Huizhou Opera talents shine in Huangshan
8 months, 1 week ago

Youthful Huizhou Opera talents shine in Huangshan

China Daily  

In a recent feature in the People's Daily on April 8, students of Huangshan's Huizhou Opera heritage inheritance class showcased their talents at Yanshi old street in Huizhou district, Huangshan. Huizhou Opera, emblematic of ancient Huizhou's traditional drama, epitomizes China's rich cultural heritage and Anhui's local essence. Students of Huangshan's Huizhou Opera heritage inheritance class showcased their talents. This youthful …

Teacher helps bring harmony to the heartland
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Teacher helps bring harmony to the heartland

China Daily  

Zhang Dong passes on big city job offers to educate children in rural areas She teaches children about the staff during a music class. As the new spring semester begins, music teacher Zhang Dong is quite happy to see her students at the rural schools she visits in Jilin city, Jilin province. Adhering to her educational philosophy of "integrating music …

Photo inspires focus on artist
1 year ago

Photo inspires focus on artist

China Daily  

Peking Opera actress Dou Xiaoxuan and Zhang in the production. CHINA DAILY The director adds that when it comes to portraying the inner struggle of Qi about changing his art style from gongbi to xieyi, two characters appear onstage to symbolize two different voices in Qi's head. "We used huadan and wuchou to personify the two different voices — one …

Photo inspires focus on artist
1 year ago

Photo inspires focus on artist

China Daily  

Peking Opera actress Dou Xiaoxuan and Zhang in the production. CHINA DAILY The director adds that when it comes to portraying the inner struggle of Qi about changing his art style from gongbi to xieyi, two characters appear onstage to symbolize two different voices in Qi's head. "We used huadan and wuchou to personify the two different voices — one …

Passing on passion for Peking Opera
1 year ago

Passing on passion for Peking Opera

China Daily  

Peking Opera actress Zhang Huoding is dedicated to training young students of the art form to practice master Cheng Yanqiu's performing style. Ever since she started teaching at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts in Beijing in 2008, she has spent more time training Chinese Peking Opera students than performing onstage. In 2016, the academy announced a training program …

Passing on passion for Peking Opera
1 year ago

Passing on passion for Peking Opera

China Daily  

Peking Opera actress Zhang Huoding is dedicated to training young students of the art form to practice master Cheng Yanqiu's performing style. Ever since she started teaching at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts in Beijing in 2008, she has spent more time training Chinese Peking Opera students than performing onstage. In 2016, the academy announced a training program …

Exploring an opera legend's connections with the city
1 year, 1 month ago

Exploring an opera legend's connections with the city

China Daily  

The ink-color portrait Thirteen Stars of Tongzhi and Guangxu Reigns of the Qing Dynasty features 13 famous singers who contributed to the founding of Peking Opera. CHINA DAILY Renowned performer Mei Lanfang has already been the focus of many exhibitions, but the latest to deal with the Peking Opera legend focuses solely on his connection to Shanghai, the city where …

Exploring an opera legend's connections with the city
1 year, 1 month ago

Exploring an opera legend's connections with the city

China Daily  

The ink-color portrait Thirteen Stars of Tongzhi and Guangxu Reigns of the Qing Dynasty features 13 famous singers who contributed to the founding of Peking Opera. CHINA DAILY Renowned performer Mei Lanfang has already been the focus of many exhibitions, but the latest to deal with the Peking Opera legend focuses solely on his connection to Shanghai, the city where …

Exploring an opera legend's connections with the city
1 year, 1 month ago

Exploring an opera legend's connections with the city

China Daily  

The ink-color portrait Thirteen Stars of Tongzhi and Guangxu Reigns of the Qing Dynasty features 13 famous singers who contributed to the founding of Peking Opera. CHINA DAILY Renowned performer Mei Lanfang has already been the focus of many exhibitions, but the latest to deal with the Peking Opera legend focuses solely on his connection to Shanghai, the city where …

Exploring an opera legend's connections with the city
1 year, 1 month ago

Exploring an opera legend's connections with the city

China Daily  

The ink-color portrait Thirteen Stars of Tongzhi and Guangxu Reigns of the Qing Dynasty features 13 famous singers who contributed to the founding of Peking Opera. CHINA DAILY Renowned performer Mei Lanfang has already been the focus of many exhibitions, but the latest to deal with the Peking Opera legend focuses solely on his connection to Shanghai, the city where …

Shao Tianshuai: Learning Kunqu Opera may help children memorize poems
1 year, 3 months ago

Shao Tianshuai: Learning Kunqu Opera may help children memorize poems

China Daily  

Shao Tianshuai, a national first-grade actor, and deputy director of the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre in Beijing said, "Since Kunqu has its own rhythms and tonal patterns with its own ups and downs in cadences and rhyme, it might better help children learn and memorize ancient poems." We find China's own path to showcase the charm of the real China …

Shao Tianshuai: Learning Kunqu Opera may help children memorize poems
1 year, 3 months ago

Shao Tianshuai: Learning Kunqu Opera may help children memorize poems

China Daily  

Shao Tianshuai, a national first-grade actor, and deputy director of the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre in Beijing said, "Since Kunqu has its own rhythms and tonal patterns with its own ups and downs in cadences and rhyme, it might better help children learn and memorize ancient poems." We find China's own path to showcase the charm of the real China …

Opera turns a new page
1 year, 5 months ago

Opera turns a new page

China Daily  

Peking Opera actress Fu Jia plays the role of Yi Qin'e in the latest contemporary Peking Opera production, Leading Role, which was adapted from the award-winning novel with the same title by Chen Yan. Standing on the stage inside the Mei Lanfang Theatre in Beijing, where classic Peking Operas are performed almost every day, Zhang, who is also a veteran …

Opera turns a new page
1 year, 5 months ago

Opera turns a new page

China Daily  

Peking Opera actress Fu Jia plays the role of Yi Qin'e in the latest contemporary Peking Opera production, Leading Role, which was adapted from the award-winning novel with the same title by Chen Yan. Standing on the stage inside the Mei Lanfang Theatre in Beijing, where classic Peking Operas are performed almost every day, Zhang, who is also a veteran …

Sci-fi inspired singer praises her roots
2 years ago

Sci-fi inspired singer praises her roots

China Daily  

Zhu Jingxi, a Dai woman from Pu'er city, Southwest China's Yunnan province, aims to merge cyberpunk style with traditional Chinese cultural elements in her visual and musical expressions. Seeking Roots It's a remarkable fact that behind Zhu's sassy look, highly experimental pieces of music and cyborg persona is her continuous pursuit of tradition. On one hand, she has been trying …

Female martyr's inspirational story told in musical
2 years, 2 months ago

Female martyr's inspirational story told in musical

China Daily  

A scene from Chinese musical Jiang Jie, which is based on the story of the female martyr Jiang Zhuyun, and premiered in Beijing on Friday. Premiered at the new theater of the China National Opera House in Beijing on Friday, the musical, also titled Jiang Jie, won warm feedback from the audience. "From the stage set to the songs, everything …

Female martyr's inspirational story told in musical
2 years, 2 months ago

Female martyr's inspirational story told in musical

China Daily  

A scene from Chinese musical Jiang Jie, which is based on the story of the female martyr Jiang Zhuyun, and premiered in Beijing on Friday. Premiered at the new theater of the China National Opera House in Beijing on Friday, the musical, also titled Jiang Jie, won warm feedback from the audience. "From the stage set to the songs, everything …

Female martyr's inspirational story told in musical
2 years, 2 months ago

Female martyr's inspirational story told in musical

China Daily  

A scene from Chinese musical Jiang Jie, which is based on the story of the female martyr Jiang Zhuyun, and premiered in Beijing on Friday. Premiered at the new theater of the China National Opera House in Beijing on Friday, the musical, also titled Jiang Jie, won warm feedback from the audience. "From the stage set to the songs, everything …

Musical on Jiang Jie to be staged in Beijing
2 years, 3 months ago

Musical on Jiang Jie to be staged in Beijing

China Daily  

A musical based on the well-known story of Jiang Jie, a female martyr, is to be staged at the China National Opera House in Beijing at the end of September. When Wang was 25 years old and won a top national musical award, she was chosen to play the role of Jiang Jie in an opera version. Now a musical …

TV show combines tradition with youth
2 years, 3 months ago

TV show combines tradition with youth

China Daily  

From top: Singer Huang Ling and actress Huang Shengyi perform on the reality show, Nashou Haoxi. In her songs, she has combined the opera art form with pop music and it's time, she says, to systematically learn the genre from professional teachers in the field, especially theoretical knowledge and their unique styles of singing. Based on their performances, a panel …

TV show combines tradition with youth
2 years, 3 months ago

TV show combines tradition with youth

China Daily  

The reality show, Nashou Haoxi, gathers a group of performers of various specialties to learn traditional Chinese opera. For instance, in the show's second episode, Shang, pop idol Zhang Yanqi, singer-dancer Li Sidanni and Liu Shuaiyi, a young performer of Yuju Opera, which originated in Henan province, join the team of Xiaoxiangyu. Apart from using cutting-edge technology to create impressive …

His world's a stage
2 years, 3 months ago

His world's a stage

China Daily  

Zhao Yun, a military general in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Peking Opera reached its zenith in the first half of the 20th century, when performers mastered acting and singing skills, and their fan base grew rapidly across the country. Mei-arguably the biggest Peking Opera star in modern history-not only achieved great success at home, but also enjoyed a worldwide …

His world's a stage
2 years, 3 months ago

His world's a stage

China Daily  

Zhao Yun, a military general in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Peking Opera reached its zenith in the first half of the 20th century, when performers mastered acting and singing skills, and their fan base grew rapidly across the country. Mei-arguably the biggest Peking Opera star in modern history-not only achieved great success at home, but also enjoyed a worldwide …

Musical on female martyr to debut in September
2 years, 4 months ago

Musical on female martyr to debut in September

China Daily  

Poster of Chinese musical Jiang Jie. In 1964, a Chinese opera, Jiang Jie, based on Jiang's story, premiered in Beijing, which, written by songwriters Yan Su and Yang Ming, became a classic opera and gained wide popularity among Chinese audiences. Singer Wang Li, along with her colleagues of Beijing Film Academy, announced in Beijing on July 27 that the Chinese …

Musical on female martyr to debut in September
2 years, 4 months ago

Musical on female martyr to debut in September

China Daily  

Poster of Chinese musical Jiang Jie. In 1964, a Chinese opera, Jiang Jie, based on Jiang's story, premiered in Beijing, which, written by songwriters Yan Su and Yang Ming, became a classic opera and gained wide popularity among Chinese audiences. Singer Wang Li, along with her colleagues of Beijing Film Academy, announced in Beijing on July 27 that the Chinese …

A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

A scene from the Chinese opera Jiang Jie, in which singer Wang Li performs the role of the female martyr, Jiang Zhuyun, at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing in September. Singer is preparing to assume the role of revolutionary heroine Jiang Jie for the 101st time, as the NCPA reprises the classic Chinese opera, Chen Nan reports. Back …

A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

A scene from the Chinese opera Jiang Jie, in which singer Wang Li performs the role of the female martyr, Jiang Zhuyun, at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing in September. Singer is preparing to assume the role of revolutionary heroine Jiang Jie for the 101st time, as the NCPA reprises the classic Chinese opera, Chen Nan reports. Back …

A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

A scene from the Chinese opera Jiang Jie, in which singer Wang Li performs the role of the female martyr, Jiang Zhuyun, at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing in September. Singer is preparing to assume the role of revolutionary heroine Jiang Jie for the 101st time, as the NCPA reprises the classic Chinese opera, Chen Nan reports. Back …

A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

A scene from the Chinese opera Jiang Jie, in which singer Wang Li performs the role of the female martyr, Jiang Zhuyun, at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing in September. The story of Jiang is well known among Chinese audiences and to me, playing the role successfully meant singing all the songs without any mistakes," Wang says. Directed …

A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

The image of Jiang Jie, with hair down to her shoulders and wearing a red jacket over a blue cheongsam, is well-known among Chinese audiences. At age 14, she was enrolled in Anhui Professional College of Art to study music, where she learned operatic singing and Huangmeixi, a provincial form of traditional Chinese opera. Three years later, she traveled to …

A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

A scene from the Chinese opera Jiang Jie, in which singer Wang Li performs the role of the female martyr, Jiang Zhuyun, at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing in September. The story of Jiang is well known among Chinese audiences and to me, playing the role successfully meant singing all the songs without any mistakes," Wang says. Directed …

A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

A scene from the Chinese opera Jiang Jie, in which singer Wang Li performs the role of the female martyr, Jiang Zhuyun, at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing in September. Singer is preparing to assume the role of revolutionary heroine Jiang Jie for the 101st time, as the NCPA reprises the classic Chinese opera, Chen Nan reports. Back …

A historic performance
2 years, 5 months ago

A historic performance

China Daily  

A scene from the Chinese opera Jiang Jie, in which singer Wang Li performs the role of the female martyr, Jiang Zhuyun, at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing in September. Singer is preparing to assume the role of revolutionary heroine Jiang Jie for the 101st time, as the NCPA reprises the classic Chinese opera, Chen Nan reports. Back …

Peking Opera pitched to younger audiences
2 years, 8 months ago

Peking Opera pitched to younger audiences

China Daily  

Li Jing plays an elderly male Peking Opera performer in the stage drama Empress Dong in Beijing. Campus production Li Jing, 34, a Peking Opera actress and also a teacher at the Donggaodi Youth Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, recently co-directed a "campus Peking Opera "catering to students. "I hope that more teenagers can gain an interest and understanding …

Peking Opera pitched to younger audiences
2 years, 8 months ago

Peking Opera pitched to younger audiences

China Daily  

Li Jing plays an elderly male Peking Opera performer in the stage drama Empress Dong in Beijing. Campus production Li Jing, 34, a Peking Opera actress and also a teacher at the Donggaodi Youth Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, recently co-directed a "campus Peking Opera "catering to students. "I hope that more teenagers can gain an interest and understanding …

Peking Opera pitched to younger audiences
2 years, 8 months ago

Peking Opera pitched to younger audiences

China Daily  

Li Jing plays an elderly male Peking Opera performer in the stage drama Empress Dong in Beijing. Campus production Li Jing, 34, a Peking Opera actress and also a teacher at the Donggaodi Youth Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, recently co-directed a "campus Peking Opera "catering to students. "I hope that more teenagers can gain an interest and understanding …

Peking Opera pitched to younger audiences
2 years, 8 months ago

Peking Opera pitched to younger audiences

China Daily  

Li Jing plays an elderly male Peking Opera performer in the stage drama Empress Dong in Beijing. Campus production Li Jing, 34, a Peking Opera actress and also a teacher at the Donggaodi Youth Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, recently co-directed a "campus Peking Opera "catering to students. "I hope that more teenagers can gain an interest and understanding …

Musical honors a talent of the ages
2 years, 8 months ago

Musical honors a talent of the ages

China Daily  

Li also invited his friend, Peking Opera actress Suo Mingfang, to play the role of Wang, Su Shi's wife. Ten years after Wang's death, he still couldn't forget her and composed a ci poem after dreaming of his wife. Singing a Peking Opera piece is totally different from singing a pop song," Suo says. "The role of Wang Fu requires …

Opera gets online boost
2 years, 8 months ago

Opera gets online boost

China Daily  

Chen Yu, an artist in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, attracts a growing fan base online with her livestreaming performances of Yueju Opera. Cheng Cheng, a 31-year-old actress of Huangmei Opera in Huanggang, Hubei province, also performs via livestreaming. During a livestreaming session in December, one of her fans left a message, saying she showed Cheng's videos to her grandfather, who commented …

Peking Opera veteran brings the art form to younger audiences
2 years, 9 months ago

Peking Opera veteran brings the art form to younger audiences

China Daily  

Veteran artist Wang Rongrong displays Peking Opera movements during an event at Chang'an Grand Theater in Beijing on March 8. Having been a Peking Opera artist for over 40 years, Wang Rongrong says she still loves the art form and continuously gains deeper understanding about its beauty. On the International Women's Day on March 8, the veteran artist appeared in …

Singer-songwriters draw on tradition
2 years, 10 months ago

Singer-songwriters draw on tradition

China Daily  

Ran Yi, Feng Sheng and Yi Si, musicians with the recording label Yi Ke Xiao Cong, perform online. Li Liang, head of the Tencent Musician program, which boasts some 300,000 registered Chinese singer-songwriters sharing their music online, said: "Young people grow up with the internet and are open to different cultures. Meanwhile, songwriter Zhou Mingcong, 26, is keen on creating …

Singer-songwriters draw on tradition
2 years, 10 months ago

Singer-songwriters draw on tradition

China Daily  

Ran Yi, Feng Sheng and Yi Si, musicians with the recording label Yi Ke Xiao Cong, perform online. Li Liang, head of the Tencent Musician program, which boasts some 300,000 registered Chinese singer-songwriters sharing their music online, said: "Young people grow up with the internet and are open to different cultures. Meanwhile, songwriter Zhou Mingcong, 26, is keen on creating …

Opera star to shine in inspirational roles
3 years ago

Opera star to shine in inspirational roles

China Daily  

Han stars in another classic piece, The Emperor's Female Son-in-Law, which will be staged on Saturday and Sunday in the capital. Han Zaifen, one of China's most acclaimed Huangmei Opera artists, brings two pieces to the capital, along with actors and actresses of Anqing Zaifen Huangmei Opera Art Theater. From Wednesday to Friday, she is performing the lead role in …

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