Zhou Fan’s efforts to inherit Xiang Opera
2023-02-23
Inherit Xiang Opera from masters
On the evening of February 9, the classic play “The Story of the Pipa” was staged at the Grand Theater of the Meixi Lake International Culture and Art Center, which was livestreamed simultaneously. Zhou Fan, who acted Zhao Wuniang, once again sang the touching Xiang Opera.
“‘The Story of the Pipa’ is too classic! The script has a profound literary foundation. The performance of the old artists has shaped the characters and expressed sincere feelings with moving music. After I entered Changsha Xiang Opera Protection and Inheritance Center, the first batch of plays I learned included ‘The Story of the Pipa’, which was taught by Chen Aizhu at that time,” said Zhou Fan.
Such classic plays had disappeared on the stage of Changsha Xiang Opera Protection and Inheritance Center for many years for various reasons. In 2021, the center decided to rehearse the youth version of “The Story of the Pipa”, and invited such teachers as Wang Yongguang, Chen Aizhu, Zeng Jingui and Luo Zhiyong and Director Wang Yangjuan. This version was performed at the Azalea Art Festival this year.
There were many unforgettable details in the rehearsal process. Zhou Fan recalled that in the play, Zhao Wuniang painted a portrait for her father-in-law and mother-in-law, but she was not satisfied with the picture painted for her mother-in-law. She thought it was because her mother-in-law died early and she could not remember her appearance, so she imitated her mother-in-law’s posture.
“My teacher Chen Aizhu imitates the old woman’s posture perfectly, which is absolutely amazing! I have practiced this part for a long time, and it is very skillful. Ms. Chen said that it was taught by her teacher Peng Li’nong, and now she has taught me.” Zhou Fan said that there is so much essence in Xiang Opera that it has been polished and refined by artists of all ages. Once lost, it would be an immeasurable loss. “I learned this play from my teacher, and I will teach it to my students in the future, so that the art of Xiang Opera will bloom in Changsha.”
Learn Kun Opera to enrich art of Xiang Opera
In this year’s Azalea Art Festival, Zhou Fan performed the Kun Opera “Garden Tour” at the Youth Drama Competition and the acceptance exhibition of the Azalea Talent Project, in addition to participating in the whole opera “The Story of the Pipa” and “The Story of Jinwan”.
“Is there a Kun tune in Xiang Opera?” After the news came out, not only local fans were shocked, but also netizens asked such a question.
Xiang Opera shows the elegant culture of Changsha. For example, Xiang Opera has absorbed the artistic essence of Kun Opera in its history, changed the stage language to Changsha Mandarin, and developed into Kun tune, one of the four major tunes of Xiang Opera.
However, Xiang Opera in Kun tune had disappeared from the stage for many years, and a number of people are unfamiliar with it, which is a very unpopular field. In recent years, many young performers have tried to rehearse plays featuring Kun tune and have achieved good results.
Zhou Fan’s “Garden Tour” is from Tang Xianzu’s “The Peony Pavilion” and was taught by Fu Yiping, a winner of the Plum Blossom Award and member of Hunan Kun Opera Troupe.
Zhou Fan told the reporter that the singing methods of the high-pitched tune and Kun tune are very different. Kun tune is sung without rest, and the specific breathing times should be taught by the teacher. Furthermore, Kun tune has to sing and dance at the same time, which is hard. But she is not afraid of difficulties.
Moreover, Kunqu Opera has rich artistic heritage and is known as the “teacher of all kinds of operas”. Young actors can absorb nutrients from it and further enrich the art of Xiang Opera.
The rehearsal of plays featuring Kun tune is not only Zhou Fan’s own expectation, but also the support of Changsha Azalea Talent Project, which enables young performers to practice their artistic ideas and realize their artistic dreams.
In this year’s Azalea Art Festival, Zhou Fan performed the Kun Opera “Garden Tour” at the Youth Drama Competition and the acceptance exhibition of the Azalea Talent Project, in addition to participating in the whole opera “The Story of the Pipa” and “The Story of Jinwan”.
“Is there a Kun tune in Xiang Opera?” After the news came out, not only local fans were shocked, but also netizens asked such a question.
Xiang Opera and the Flower-drum Opera are both popular operas in Changsha. “If the Flower-drum Opera is equivalent to popular music, Xiang Opera can be regarded as bel canto music,” said Zeng Jingui, a famous performing artist of Xiang Opera.
Xiang Opera shows the elegant culture of Changsha. For example, Xiang Opera has absorbed the artistic essence of Kun Opera in its history, changed the stage language to Changsha Mandarin, and developed into Kun tune, one of the four major tunes of Xiang Opera.
However, Xiang Opera in Kun tune had disappeared from the stage for many years, and a number of people are unfamiliar with it, which is a very unpopular field. In recent years, many young performers have tried to rehearse plays featuring Kun tune and have achieved good results.
Zhou Fan’s “Garden Tour” is from Tang Xianzu’s “The Peony Pavilion” and was taught by Fu Yiping, a winner of the Plum Blossom Award and member of Hunan Kun Opera Troupe.
Zhou Fan told the reporter that the singing methods of the high-pitched tune and Kun tune are very different. Kun tune is sung without rest, and the specific breathing times should be taught by the teacher. Furthermore, Kun tune has to sing and dance at the same time, which is hard. But she is not afraid of difficulties.
Moreover, Kunqu Opera has rich artistic heritage and is known as the “teacher of all kinds of operas”. Young actors can absorb nutrients from it and further enrich the art of Xiang Opera.
The rehearsal of plays featuring Kun tune is not only Zhou Fan’s own expectation, but also the support of Changsha Azalea Talent Project, which enables young performers to practice their artistic ideas and realize their artistic dreams.
