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The picture shows college students (right) performing with young actors of Shengzhou Yue Opera Troupe.
Photo by Wang Bei
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As the second largest drama in the country, Yue Opera has always had many fans. In Shengzhou, Zhejiang, the birthplace of Yue Opera, relying on the Chinese Yue Opera Fan Network built by the Shengzhou Yue Opera Museum, more than 180 “Love Yue Small Stations” have been built across the country since 2016 to gather Yue Opera fans, spread Yue Opera art, and attract more people to fall in love with Yue Opera.
Yue Opera, which has a beautiful singing voice and a pleasing shape, is the second largest type of drama in the country, and has been popular all over the country. However, in recent years, Yue Opera has also faced problems such as shrinking market and lack of successors.
In Shengzhou City, Zhejiang Province, the birthplace of Yue Opera, relying on the construction of the Shengzhou Yue Opera Museum, the Chinese Yue Opera Fan Network has built “Love Yue Small Station” throughout the country since 2016 to gather Yue Opera fans and spread the art of Yue Opera. In the past six years, from the community to the university, there have been more than 180 “Aiyue Small Stations”, each with hundreds of people and dozens of people, both old ticket holders and new audiences.
Professional training is organized so that amateur actors can also take the stage
Walking into the No. 9 rehearsal room of Shengzhou Yue Opera Art School, more than 10 students are rehearsing “Tales of the West Wing”. National first-class actor Wang Guiping corrected the trainees’ movements while making a demonstration: “The shoulders should be relaxed, not stiff, and there will be no beauty when you hold it.” “The stage is so big, you have to have a number under your feet, you can’t go to the front desk in one go.” Everyone learns well.
Zheng Xiaobin, deputy director of the Shengzhou Yue Opera Museum, said that these students come from the “Aiyue Small Station” across the country, and the learning tasks are not easy for 6 hours a day, but after the class, the students still often surround the teacher to ask questions.
”I’ve been looking forward to coming here to study.” The girl from Dalian, Liaoning Province, couldn’t help but rejoice. The students came from Liaoning, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and other places. “Yue opera sings melodious and elegant, and it can also enhance the classical cultural connotation, and the more I learn, the more I like it.” Connaught said.
Li Xiang, the webmaster of Dalian’s “Aiyue Small Station”, is also a student of this session. The temperature was very high that day, and the salute was sweaty, but there was excitement between the words, “We came to study, we want to arrange more good performances and go back to attract more audiences.” ”
These amateurs, can really perform on stage?
”Don’t underestimate them, the characteristics of Yue opera are easy to get started and easy to imitate.” Zheng Xiaobin said that some opera fans who have high requirements for themselves are not satisfied with their own learning and find ways to consult professional teachers. Therefore, the opportunity to train at Shengzhou Art School every year is particularly popular, and you need to “grab tickets”.
”We also send teachers to various places from time to time to train and teach singing and chanting. How to breathe with your chest and abdomen, how to pronounce pure words… These can only be taught face-to-face. Zheng Xiaobin said that the Yue opera singing is popular, tactful and beautiful, the movements are intuitive and full of beauty, and after training, the trainees have them.Significantly improved.
The activities are colorful and gather theater fans from all over the world
”The sunset is red, and the sound of Li singing urges Hui Hong…” On the stage, “Liu Yi’s Biography” is being staged, which from time to time attracts applause from the audience. This is the scene of the 46th “Star Yue Opera Show” in Shapingba District, Chongqing, and the actors are all members of Chongqing’s “Aiyue Small Station”.
Not only Chongqing, but this past summer, members of Zhejiang Ruian’s “Aiyue Small Station” appeared on the ancient theater stage in Wenzhou and performed two consecutive performances; The “Aiyue Small Station” in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province broadcast the new row drama “Chasing Fish” on the cloud live broadcast number and Douyin number of the “Shenzhen Cultural Center”. In addition to performances, vocal singing enhancement classes, famous performing arts explanations and other activities are also held in various places…”The ‘Aiyue Station’ in various places is very active throughout the year! Zheng Xiaobin said.
Chongqing “Aiyue Small Station” was established relying on the Shapingba District Cultural Center Qunxingyue Opera Troupe, and the members invited professional teachers to teach, arranged nearly 10 big plays, and appeared on the Spring Festival Gala of the Chongqing Science and Education Channel for the middle and the elderly for four consecutive years. “Every time there is a big play, the small theater of more than 100 people is full, and no one leaves the performance.” He Defeng, the backbone of the small station, is very proud.
”‘Love Yue Small Station’ is like a magnet, gathering Yue opera fans from all over the world, continuously expanding its influence, and allowing more people to contact and recognize Yue opera. These are difficult to do with professional troupes alone. Li Ji, deputy director of Shengzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, said.
Last year, Shengzhou newly arranged a modern Yue opera drama “Walnut Tree Love”. During the national tour, members of the “Aiyue Station” in various places painted posters and promoted it, becoming effective helpers.
On May 27 this year, “Walnut Tree Love” toured to Zunyi, Guizhou. Early in the morning, the members of the “Aiyue Small Station” in Guiyang, Guizhou, boarded the train and set off. “We are ready ten days in advance!” Station manager Li Shan was excited. The troupe toured the country and was warmly received along the way. “They are fans of Yue opera, and they are also the soil for the growth of Yue opera. Their love and affection for Yue opera often touched me in particular. Chen Yajun, director of the actor department of the Shengzhou Yue Opera Troupe, said.
More young people joining the “Love Yue Small Station” is very important for the future of Yue Opera. Zheng Xiaobin said that at present, 92 “Aiyue small stations” have been established in major universities in China, becoming a new force for spreading the art of Yue Opera.
Li Xiaoyan is the person in charge of the “Aiyue Small Station” of Zhejiang University of Technology. “Our ‘Aiyue Station’ not only absorbs new students, but also some senior brothers and sisters who have already graduated, and they will actively rush back to school to help when there are activities.” Li Xiaoyan said.
Share the fun of art and be a good theater fan “mother’s family”
”It’s a blessing to have such a committed fan.” Wang Guiping is very gratified, “In this fast-paced era, it is rare for them to be able to quietly learn a slow, ancient art. Without an audience, Yue Opera has no foundation. ”
”The ‘mother’s family’ that has become a fan of the drama” is the voice of Shengzhou.slogan. 52-year-old Chen Qin, a native of Shangrao, Jiangxi, followed ticket holders to Shengzhou to participate in a fan meeting in 2017 and was infected by everyone’s enthusiasm. “Participating in the fan club gives me a sense of belonging and is very warm.” After going back, she set up the “Love Yue Small Station” in Shangrao and joined the big family of Yue opera fans.
In addition to participating in professional training during the summer vacation, Shengzhou also continues to launch a variety of activities to interact with fans. In the summer of 2020, 105 members of the university stations of Shengzhou organized “Aiyue Small Station” to take the stage to perform with the actors of the Shengzhou Yue Opera Troupe, and participate in Yue Opera experience classes such as performance, singing, costume, and guided tours at the Yue Opera Art School. Li Yan, a member of Tianjin University’s “Aiyue Small Station”, skewered Li Xiuying, the protagonist of “Jasper Hairpin”, which surprised the audience. “The joy of theater fans is difficult for outsiders to experience. It is a spiritual sustenance and enjoyment. Zheng Xiaobin said.
With a small station, theater fans in the south and north of the world have a spiritual home. On May 18 this year, the China Yue Opera Fan Network launched the “Power of Yue Opera” activity, and the “Love Yue Small Station” in various places uploaded videos, which were edited to form a video of more than two hours. Some opera fans left a message to the public account: “When you are upset, listen to a Yue opera, and the melancholy will follow.” ”
”In the Chinese drama garden, Yue opera is not a graceful and luxurious peony, but more like a brilliant and dazzling little flower, tenacious vitality, easy to take root, and able to grow into a piece.” Xia Yan, vice president of Shengzhou Yue Opera Art School, said.
In the eyes of opera fans, Yue opera is their common “honey friend”, learning and sharing Yue opera has allowed everyone to harvest a sweet sense of happiness. Although he is only an amateur, he is also like a little bee that contributes to the spread of Yue Opera.
Brilliant flowers form a sea of flowers, and bees hover. How can such a Yue drama get old?
People’s Daily (Version 14, September 22, 2022)
(Responsible editors: Ai Yutao, Wang Liwei)
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