aims to promote cultural exchanges of Cantonese opera in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and deepen the interaction between the Cantonese opera and drama circles in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. On March 29th and 30th, the Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe performed for two consecutive nights at the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Art Center, bringing a new version of "The Horse Before the Water" and the classic costume Cantonese opera "The Emperor's Flower" to the citizens of Guangzhou. Both plays were created and arranged in 2023. After their successful premiere in Shenzhen, they were performed overseas for the first time. The performance site was filled with applause and cheers, and was unanimously recognized by the experts and audiences present.
Stills from the Cantonese opera "Horse Overturning Water".
The classic "reappearance" is in line with modern aesthetics
The newly edited version of "Ma Qianqianquai" is adapted from the traditional Kunqu opera "Lanke Mountain", opening up the gap between tradition and modernity, elegance and popularity, classical and fashion, and is extremely creative . Adapted and directed by Hu Jiawei, a young director of the Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe, Liang Guyin, a famous Kun Opera performing artist, a national first-class actor, and a representative inheritor of Kun Opera, a national intangible cultural heritage project, is specially invited to serve as the artistic director and performer. A number of outstanding young creatives joined the production; national second-level actors Tan Lanyan and Chen Shicai starred in the film, and major actors such as Lin Haitao, Su Xiaohui, and Chen Jinwen performed passionately.
As the first full-length version of Cantonese opera, the play has bold innovations in creation. Based on the original Cantonese opera stage, it creates a "minimalist" oriental aesthetic stage that conforms to modern aesthetic trends and from a modern perspective. On the basis of consolidating the traditional foundation of Cantonese opera, it integrates contemporary audio-visual elements; while maximizing the program techniques of Cantonese opera, it integrates elements such as light and shadow, rap, etc., so that the play can be presented to the public in a lighter and younger way, attracting more people. Many contemporary young people have entered opera and learned about traditional culture.
The Cantonese opera "Horse Overturned" incorporates many innovative elements such as the relationship between light and shadow.
The Cantonese opera "Emperor's Flower" was performed on the evening of March 30. The venue was packed and it was hard to get a ticket. "The Flower of the Emperor" is carefully rearranged by the Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe. In line with the concept of paying tribute to and inheriting the classics, Teacher Bai Xuehong, the sister of the premiere performer of "The Flower of the Emperor" Bai Xuexian and a Cantonese opera performing artist, is specially invited to serve as the director. Art consultant. The outstanding young director Hu Jiawei combined, edited and directed the 1957 clay print version, the 1959 film version, the 1960 audio version, and the 1976 film version. National first-class actor Xiao Yi plays Zhou Shixian, and Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe Hua Dan Bu Meiling plays Chang. Princess Ping, as well as outstanding actors from Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe Chen Shicai, Lin Haitao, Su Xiaohui, Wen Hui, Tan Fangmei, Chen Jinwen and others co-starred. At the same time, Li Ce, a young lighting designer of the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater, was invited to serve as the lighting designer of this play. The whole play revolves around a beautiful and tragic visual tone to express the visual appeal of the country being ruined, the family being destroyed, and the country being sacrificed for love.
The whole play of "The Flower of the Emperor" revolves around the beautiful and tragic visual tone.
The choreography is concise and expressive
As the curtain of "The Emperor's Flower" came to an end, this Guangzhou Cantonese Opera cultural exchange performance was a complete success. Dong Shangde, a well-known opera research expert and professor at Sun Yat-sen University, said in an interview with Nandu reporters that the two works presented by the Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe this time are both remarkable. "In general, the Shenzhen version of "Emperor's Flower" has good control over the rhythm of the stage. When it is time to slow down, the scene will be slowed down, which makes the play more layered. The whole play is smooth and full of ups and downs. Judging from the theater response, , the audience was satisfied and the atmosphere was warm. Compared with Tang Disheng's original script, this version is cleaner and more concise. For example, the image of the nun's master in the original work has a certain role, but now it has been processed in a dark scene to retain the main plot of the original play. , and it looks more sophisticated and beautiful. The dance is simple and expressive. The male and female protagonists are very engaged and full of emotions. You can think about it, for example, there was no imperial examination system in the Han Dynasty, so you can't talk about "failure" or "failure". You still have to pay attention to such details. "
The whole performance of the Cantonese opera "The Emperor's Flower" is smooth and full of ups and downs.
A reporter from Nandu saw at the scene that during the curtain call of the performance every night, the audience stood up in large numbers and gave bursts of applause for the wonderful performance. Some audience members also said that they wanted to watch the show again just after watching it. It was so exciting. I hope You can come to Guangzhou often to perform. The Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe also stated that in the future, it will be committed to actively promoting cultural exchanges of Cantonese opera in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and bringing more new Cantonese operas to Guangzhou citizens to experience a different innovative experience.
The performance was packed with seats.
Written by: Nandu reporter Zhou Peiwen, intern, Chen Yutong, correspondent, Wei Chenxin
Pictures provided by Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe
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