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Traditional opera performances in teahouses prove a heady brew
By Xu Wenwen |
February 27, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
NO high-tech speakers; no tiny hidden microphones; no spectacular house lighting; just beautifully dressed Kunqu Opera actors whose natural and mellow singing beguiles their audience sitting close to the stage.
The performance of this old type of opera, which dominated Chinese theater from the 16th to 18th centuries, is given as in bygone days: no more than 40 seats in the teahouse venue; the audience sitting right in front of the stage; the musicians placed next to audience; lights not dimmed for the performance.
On Monday evening, Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe presented this traditional show at Tongxiang Teahouse on Laodong Road, staging three scenes from classical play "The Peony Pavilion."
"Through this, audiences can enjoy the originality of Kunqu Opera," says Huang Xiangang, chairman of Zhejiang Theater Association, which is behind the initiative.
"Hopefully more options for appreciating opera will attract new audiences."
Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera, and has been listed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2001. It is - both in terms of choreography and music - slow and exquisite, with an emphasis on aesthetics.
The form developed during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), originating in the Wu cultural area, today's Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.
Like many traditional arts, Kunqu Opera has faced problems attracting young audiences to this precious heritage culture.
However, today it is undergoing a revival, with an increasing number of young audience members and performers.
At Monday's performance, many of the sell-out audience are young people, who responded enthusiastically to the performance with hearty applause and cheers.
"Teahouse performances bring me closer to the actors, and singing without a microphone makes the experience more real," says Yu Junwei, a 32-year-old Kunqu Opera fan.
"Going to a theater to see opera is a formal occasion, but going to a teahouse is more casual, and therefore, can be a part of everyday life," explains another fan, 33-year-old Wang Jingbo.
The Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe has been promoting the traditional art in many ways over the past 10 years. Last year, it gave 70 performances and lectures in colleges and schools around Zhejiang Province.
"A decade ago, white-haired audience members outnumbered the black-haired, but today, the black-haired make up the majority," says Lin Weilin, the director of Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe.
Teahouse performances also provide performers with a less formal setting for honing their craft.
"To stage Kunqu Opera in teahouses is an inexpensive way of ensuring performers get stage experience," says Wang Mingqiang, the deputy director of the troupe.
Wang adds that the troupe only plays in theaters around 10 times a year.
Nonetheless, performing in teahouses is demanding, because without a microphone actors must project their singing and speaking voices so that the audience can hear them clearly, even when band - usually featuring more than five instruments - is playing.
Moreover, they have to pay close attention to their slightest movements because the audience is so near.
"I dare not breathe obviously on the stage," says Zhang Kankan, an actress. "Also, not only do audiences see us clearly but we see them too, so being focused is very important."
Kunqu Opera at Hangzhou teahouses looks to have a bright future.
Tickets cost between 260 yuan (US$41.7) and 580 yuan for the 90-minute show. Audience members are served tea by tea ceremony specialists and an incense ceremony is also involved.
In comparison, a ticket for a Kunqu Opera theater performance in the city is usually no more than 100 yuan.
"We attract high-end business customers as well as tourists who want to experience Zhejiang's culture," says Wu Xi, the general manager of Tongxiang Teahouse.
The teahouse is to be listed in a cultural tourist route by Hangzhou Tourism Commission.
From this weekend, Kunqu Opera shows are being staged in Tongxiang Teahouse (168 Laodong Road) every Saturday evening. Call (0571) 8703-8066 for reservations.
The performance of this old type of opera, which dominated Chinese theater from the 16th to 18th centuries, is given as in bygone days: no more than 40 seats in the teahouse venue; the audience sitting right in front of the stage; the musicians placed next to audience; lights not dimmed for the performance.
On Monday evening, Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe presented this traditional show at Tongxiang Teahouse on Laodong Road, staging three scenes from classical play "The Peony Pavilion."
"Through this, audiences can enjoy the originality of Kunqu Opera," says Huang Xiangang, chairman of Zhejiang Theater Association, which is behind the initiative.
"Hopefully more options for appreciating opera will attract new audiences."
Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera, and has been listed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2001. It is - both in terms of choreography and music - slow and exquisite, with an emphasis on aesthetics.
The form developed during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), originating in the Wu cultural area, today's Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.
Like many traditional arts, Kunqu Opera has faced problems attracting young audiences to this precious heritage culture.
However, today it is undergoing a revival, with an increasing number of young audience members and performers.
At Monday's performance, many of the sell-out audience are young people, who responded enthusiastically to the performance with hearty applause and cheers.
"Teahouse performances bring me closer to the actors, and singing without a microphone makes the experience more real," says Yu Junwei, a 32-year-old Kunqu Opera fan.
"Going to a theater to see opera is a formal occasion, but going to a teahouse is more casual, and therefore, can be a part of everyday life," explains another fan, 33-year-old Wang Jingbo.
The Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe has been promoting the traditional art in many ways over the past 10 years. Last year, it gave 70 performances and lectures in colleges and schools around Zhejiang Province.
"A decade ago, white-haired audience members outnumbered the black-haired, but today, the black-haired make up the majority," says Lin Weilin, the director of Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe.
Teahouse performances also provide performers with a less formal setting for honing their craft.
"To stage Kunqu Opera in teahouses is an inexpensive way of ensuring performers get stage experience," says Wang Mingqiang, the deputy director of the troupe.
Wang adds that the troupe only plays in theaters around 10 times a year.
Nonetheless, performing in teahouses is demanding, because without a microphone actors must project their singing and speaking voices so that the audience can hear them clearly, even when band - usually featuring more than five instruments - is playing.
Moreover, they have to pay close attention to their slightest movements because the audience is so near.
"I dare not breathe obviously on the stage," says Zhang Kankan, an actress. "Also, not only do audiences see us clearly but we see them too, so being focused is very important."
Kunqu Opera at Hangzhou teahouses looks to have a bright future.
Tickets cost between 260 yuan (US$41.7) and 580 yuan for the 90-minute show. Audience members are served tea by tea ceremony specialists and an incense ceremony is also involved.
In comparison, a ticket for a Kunqu Opera theater performance in the city is usually no more than 100 yuan.
"We attract high-end business customers as well as tourists who want to experience Zhejiang's culture," says Wu Xi, the general manager of Tongxiang Teahouse.
The teahouse is to be listed in a cultural tourist route by Hangzhou Tourism Commission.
From this weekend, Kunqu Opera shows are being staged in Tongxiang Teahouse (168 Laodong Road) every Saturday evening. Call (0571) 8703-8066 for reservations.
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