chinese opera
silvertree
Last night we went to see The Bejing Opera Theater. It was a very
interesting experience. It is not like western opera at all. The stage was
set simply with a square carpet for the actors area to perform. The
backdrop was a sort of silk screen with a large fabric grass plant, flower
and chinese letters on the screen. The only props used were a table, chair
and a few martial arts weapons. They performed 4 pieces from different
plays. These pieces are very ancient...some being from the time of the
1400's! The actors in chinese opera begin their training at the age of 10.
These young children are picked from thousands of applicants. Their day
begins at 5am and ends at night after rehearsals. At age 18 they finish
their training and some never become actors but perhaps stagehands, prop
designers, etc. The description of their training by our friend and leading
chinese scholar in chinese theater was that it was akin to ballet, martial
arts, and singing. It is a very ancient tradition and there are set pieces
that traditionally are performed. We saw Kunju opera which is apparently
more sophisticated and refined than some other types of chinese opera. The
costumes were gorgeous with bright colors of silk and many layered in some
cases. They had an interesting way of walking...a quick sort of
running...which made the actors appear to almost float. We sat with some
friends from the wushu center...they are chinese. When we were done and
were all walking to the car we said we had wished we knew chinese to
understand the words. They didn't understand it either apparently. The way
that the words are spoken or sung are elongated and executed with many high
pitched sounds. Some of it sounded almost screetchy. But, it was beautiful
to watch and I admired the extensive training that these people had gone
through for their art form.
Linda
interesting experience. It is not like western opera at all. The stage was
set simply with a square carpet for the actors area to perform. The
backdrop was a sort of silk screen with a large fabric grass plant, flower
and chinese letters on the screen. The only props used were a table, chair
and a few martial arts weapons. They performed 4 pieces from different
plays. These pieces are very ancient...some being from the time of the
1400's! The actors in chinese opera begin their training at the age of 10.
These young children are picked from thousands of applicants. Their day
begins at 5am and ends at night after rehearsals. At age 18 they finish
their training and some never become actors but perhaps stagehands, prop
designers, etc. The description of their training by our friend and leading
chinese scholar in chinese theater was that it was akin to ballet, martial
arts, and singing. It is a very ancient tradition and there are set pieces
that traditionally are performed. We saw Kunju opera which is apparently
more sophisticated and refined than some other types of chinese opera. The
costumes were gorgeous with bright colors of silk and many layered in some
cases. They had an interesting way of walking...a quick sort of
running...which made the actors appear to almost float. We sat with some
friends from the wushu center...they are chinese. When we were done and
were all walking to the car we said we had wished we knew chinese to
understand the words. They didn't understand it either apparently. The way
that the words are spoken or sung are elongated and executed with many high
pitched sounds. Some of it sounded almost screetchy. But, it was beautiful
to watch and I admired the extensive training that these people had gone
through for their art form.
Linda
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/9/2000 7:03:52 AM Central Standard Time,
silvertree@... writes:
<< The actors in chinese opera begin their training at the age of 10.
These young children are picked from thousands of applicants. Their day
begins at 5am and ends at night after rehearsals. At age 18 they finish
their training and some never become actors but perhaps stagehands, prop
designers, etc. The description of their training by our friend and leading
chinese scholar in chinese theater was that it was akin to ballet, martial
arts, and singing. >>
A good place to read about what's involved in the training is Jackie Chan's
autobiography, I Am Jackie Chan - My Life in Action. He was trained in
Chinese opera and gives vivid discriptions of what the life was like (very
difficult). This book is a lot of fun if you are a Jackie Chan fan. We LOVE
his movies at our house! Lots of action, very little real violence. They're
kind of silly instead of being really scary.
**** Kim ****
runs with scissors
silvertree@... writes:
<< The actors in chinese opera begin their training at the age of 10.
These young children are picked from thousands of applicants. Their day
begins at 5am and ends at night after rehearsals. At age 18 they finish
their training and some never become actors but perhaps stagehands, prop
designers, etc. The description of their training by our friend and leading
chinese scholar in chinese theater was that it was akin to ballet, martial
arts, and singing. >>
A good place to read about what's involved in the training is Jackie Chan's
autobiography, I Am Jackie Chan - My Life in Action. He was trained in
Chinese opera and gives vivid discriptions of what the life was like (very
difficult). This book is a lot of fun if you are a Jackie Chan fan. We LOVE
his movies at our house! Lots of action, very little real violence. They're
kind of silly instead of being really scary.
**** Kim ****
runs with scissors
silvertree
My dd's teacher has been in movies with Jackie Chan and has talked about his
training at the wushu center. Dd's teacher is Master Hu Jianjiang and has
been in Shogun, Shaolin Temple and many others. I haven't read his
biography but it sounds like something we might like. Thanks!
Linda
training at the wushu center. Dd's teacher is Master Hu Jianjiang and has
been in Shogun, Shaolin Temple and many others. I haven't read his
biography but it sounds like something we might like. Thanks!
Linda
----- Original Message ----- >
> A good place to read about what's involved in the training is Jackie
Chan's
> autobiography, I Am Jackie Chan - My Life in Action. He was trained in
> Chinese opera and gives vivid discriptions of what the life was like (very
> difficult). This book is a lot of fun if you are a Jackie Chan fan. We
LOVE
> his movies at our house! Lots of action, very little real violence.
They're
> kind of silly instead of being really scary.
>
> **** Kim ****
> runs with scissors
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/9/2000 1:55:44 PM Central Standard Time,
silvertree@... writes:
<< My dd's teacher has been in movies with Jackie Chan and has talked about
his
training at the wushu center. Dd's teacher is Master Hu Jianjiang and has
been in Shogun, Shaolin Temple and many others. >>
So cool!!!!! I would love to be on the set of a Jackie Chan movie and watch
the action parts.
**** Kim ****
runs with scissors
silvertree@... writes:
<< My dd's teacher has been in movies with Jackie Chan and has talked about
his
training at the wushu center. Dd's teacher is Master Hu Jianjiang and has
been in Shogun, Shaolin Temple and many others. >>
So cool!!!!! I would love to be on the set of a Jackie Chan movie and watch
the action parts.
**** Kim ****
runs with scissors