Cheng Yanqiu , born in Beijing. One of the four great twentieth century performers of the Dan role type in Jingju with Mei Lanfang, Shang Xiaoyun and Xun Huisheng.
Cheng was also the creator of several original jingju productions in the 1920's and 30's. During the Second Sino-Japanese War he refused to perform and instead worked as a farmer in Beijing. After the war, he was appointed vice president of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Opera.
At 20:20pm, 9 March 1958, Cheng died of heart attack in Beijing.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Zhou Xinfang
Zhou Xinfang, , was a famous Beijing Opera actor who died in the Cultural Revolution. He is regarded as one of the greatest masters of Beijing Opera. He is the father of and
Zhou, a native of Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, was born in Qingjiangpu, north Jiangsu in 1895, in a family with a tradition of opera performance. He started to learn Beijing opera at 6, and made his debut as child role in Hangzhou at age of 7, thus acquiring a stage name "Qi Ling Tong" or "seven-year-old child".
Zhou, a native of Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, was born in Qingjiangpu, north Jiangsu in 1895, in a family with a tradition of opera performance. He started to learn Beijing opera at 6, and made his debut as child role in Hangzhou at age of 7, thus acquiring a stage name "Qi Ling Tong" or "seven-year-old child".
Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre
The Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre , located on a hutong in the Xuanwu District of Beijing, is one of the best-known Beijing opera theatres. It is also one of the oldest wooden theatres in China. Zhengyici means a temple for Zhengyi Xuantan Laozu .
The theatre was built in 1688, during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. It was built on the site of a temple. It has a rich history that includes performances by the grandmaster of Peking Opera, Mei Lanfang.
After the Cultural Revolution, the theatre fell into disrepair. However, in 1995 a local businessman sponsored a full restoration. The theatre now continues to perform Beijing Opera. It is considered a living relic and one of Beijing's finest monuments.
As of August 2005, the theatre is temporarily closed for building work.
History
The theatre was built in 1688, during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. It was built on the site of a temple. It has a rich history that includes performances by the grandmaster of Peking Opera, Mei Lanfang.
After the Cultural Revolution, the theatre fell into disrepair. However, in 1995 a local businessman sponsored a full restoration. The theatre now continues to perform Beijing Opera. It is considered a living relic and one of Beijing's finest monuments.
As of August 2005, the theatre is temporarily closed for building work.
Xun Huisheng
Xun Huisheng was one of the four great twentieth century performers of the Dan role type in Jingju with Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu and Shang Xiaoyun.
Xun is best known for his portrayal of ''huadan'' roles, women who tended to be more vivacious or even of questionable character.
Xun is best known for his portrayal of ''huadan'' roles, women who tended to be more vivacious or even of questionable character.
Shang Xiaoyun
Shang Xiaoyun was one of the four great twentieth century performers of the Dan role type in Jingju with Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu and Xun Huisheng.
In addition to his singing, Shang was known for his dance and acrobatic skills. He was the founder of the Rong Chun Opera School.
In addition to his singing, Shang was known for his dance and acrobatic skills. He was the founder of the Rong Chun Opera School.
Mei Lanfang
Méi Lánfāng was one of the most famous or artists in modern history, exclusively known for his ''qingyi'' roles, a type of role. ''Méi Lánfāng'' is his stage name, and in Chinese it is generally considered a feminine name. His real name was Méi Lán . Mei, Shang Xiaoyun , Cheng Yanqiu and Xun Huisheng were known as Four Great Dan in the golden era of Peking Opera.
Méi was born in 1894 into a family of Beijing Opera and performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old. In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim, and his smooth, perfectly timed, poised style has come to be known in opera circles as the “Méi School.” He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kūnqǔ, noted particularly for his interpretations of and Bái Sùzhēn .
Méi was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. He was known to have toured the world, forming friendships with the western contemporaries of his day, including Charlie Chaplin. During his visit to Hollywood, he was also welcomed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford.
After 1949 he served as director of China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Besides his autobiography, ''Forty Years of Life on the Stage'', several of his articles and essays have been published in ''The Collected Works of Mei Lanfang''. Recordings of his best-known performances have been published in ''A Selection of Beijing Operas Performed by Mei Lanfang''. In 2000, the story of his life was filmed in a documentary entitled ''The Worlds of Mei Lanfang''. It has been rumoured that acclaimed director Chen Kaige is set to direct a film biography of his life.
Méi was born in 1894 into a family of Beijing Opera and performers. He made his stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 10 years old. In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international acclaim, and his smooth, perfectly timed, poised style has come to be known in opera circles as the “Méi School.” He also played an important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kūnqǔ, noted particularly for his interpretations of and Bái Sùzhēn .
Méi was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the United States, and other regions. He was known to have toured the world, forming friendships with the western contemporaries of his day, including Charlie Chaplin. During his visit to Hollywood, he was also welcomed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford.
After 1949 he served as director of China Beijing Opera Theater, director of the Chinese Opera Research Institute, and vice-chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Besides his autobiography, ''Forty Years of Life on the Stage'', several of his articles and essays have been published in ''The Collected Works of Mei Lanfang''. Recordings of his best-known performances have been published in ''A Selection of Beijing Operas Performed by Mei Lanfang''. In 2000, the story of his life was filmed in a documentary entitled ''The Worlds of Mei Lanfang''. It has been rumoured that acclaimed director Chen Kaige is set to direct a film biography of his life.
Huguang Guild Hall
The Huguang Guild Hall in Beijing is a renowned Beijing opera theatre. Built in 1807, and at the height of its glory, the Huguang Guild Hall, along with the Zhengyici Peking Opera Theatre was known as one of the "Four Great Theatres" in all of Beijing. Many famous past and present opera performers have performed here.
The entire complex covers over a large area, and the main buildings of the hall include the opera building, Wenchang building, Xiangxian Temple and Chuwan hall. The theatre is renowned for its magnificent interiors, which is coloured in red, green and gold, and decked out with tables and a stone floor. The Huguang Guild Hall also contains a small museum which exhibits the theatre's rich history of Beijing opera.
The entire complex covers over a large area, and the main buildings of the hall include the opera building, Wenchang building, Xiangxian Temple and Chuwan hall. The theatre is renowned for its magnificent interiors, which is coloured in red, green and gold, and decked out with tables and a stone floor. The Huguang Guild Hall also contains a small museum which exhibits the theatre's rich history of Beijing opera.
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