The flame that ignited Wang's passion for opera
By Wang Lihui and Xu Wei |
July 30, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MANY years have passed, but 50-year-old Wang Hongming still clearly remembers the twilight scene of her father relaxing on his bench, listening intently to Zhou Xiaofang's Huaiju Opera "Tiger Tally" from the phonograph. With his eyes closed, he cheered Zhou?s singing from time to time.
The memory also evokes deep emotions and Wang knows it was then when the seeds of her love for traditional Chinese operas were planted in her heart. Forty years have gone by and the seeds have sprouted and today are growing with vigor.
Zhou was the founder of the Zhou School of Huaiju Opera. The characters he depicted on the stage were from all walks of life. Wang's father Wang Zhiyi was more than a devoted fan of Zhou - they were sworn brothers and close friends. When Wang was young, she even called Zhou "father."
"You're a beautiful and cute girl, but you shouldn't have a dull look in your eyes," Zhou told Wang. After striking a match, he asked Wang to stare at the flame. Her eyes moved as she followed the flickering light.
Zhou told Wang the ability to move one's eyes and focus steadily on the object is a crucial skill for being a good traditional opera performer. Under Zhou's instructions, Wang's eyes lit up and became bright and intelligent - until they revealed her nimbleness.
After 1977, the year that Zhou passed away, Wang's father gradually lost contact with Zhou's family. Later Wang became a hammerer at Shanghai Drill Bits Factory. Although she remained enthusiastic about traditional opera, she never had a chance to perform on stage.
When Wang's father became sick in 2010, he frequently talked of his old friend Zhou and Zhou's son Zhou Zhixiang. To fulfil her father's dream, Wang started searching for the younger Zhou. Her efforts paid off. In February, 2011, Wang was reunited with her "brother" Zhou, who was by then living in Jinshan District in the south of Shanghai. It was already 24 years since the last time the two met.
By chance, on the day of their reunion, a friend of the younger Zhou opened his own Huaiju Opera salon and Zhou invited Wang to attend its opening ceremony. During the event, Wang was encouraged to sing several excerpts. Her performance stunned the audience. Amazed at Wang's hidden talent, Zhou decided to teach Wang Huaiju Opera. Wang then became the first female student at the Zhou school.
"On the stage you should become the role rather than yourself," Wang says.
Wang's voice is somewhat harsh, but she has managed to overcome this weakness skillfully. Before each performance, she usually spends a long time studying the personality and detailed emotions of the characters she portrays. In addition, the various postures and body language she displays on stage also impresses her audiences.
Apart from Huaiju Opera, Wang is also keen on Yueju Opera, Hebei Opera and Shanghai stand-up comedy. Wang's diversified interests help inspire her stage performances. For instance, the debut appearance of an ancient Chinese female general Mu Guiying is very charming in the Hebei Opera, much better than that in the Huaiju Opera or Yueju Opera, so Wang took this posture while playing the role of the general Mu in the Huaiju Opera and her portrayal of Mu was hailed by fans.
Then misfortune struck. Last December, Wang fell and hurt her right leg. She was scheduled to perform four excerpts at a Huaiju Opera performance in Pudong New Area some days later on the New Year's Eve. Determined to keep her promise to the audience and organizers, Wang still performed in spite of the pain.
Looking at the video clip of her performance, one can see her face sometimes twitching with pain.
Wang's perseverance and devotion to the operatic art won her the respect of others.
The memory also evokes deep emotions and Wang knows it was then when the seeds of her love for traditional Chinese operas were planted in her heart. Forty years have gone by and the seeds have sprouted and today are growing with vigor.
Zhou was the founder of the Zhou School of Huaiju Opera. The characters he depicted on the stage were from all walks of life. Wang's father Wang Zhiyi was more than a devoted fan of Zhou - they were sworn brothers and close friends. When Wang was young, she even called Zhou "father."
"You're a beautiful and cute girl, but you shouldn't have a dull look in your eyes," Zhou told Wang. After striking a match, he asked Wang to stare at the flame. Her eyes moved as she followed the flickering light.
Zhou told Wang the ability to move one's eyes and focus steadily on the object is a crucial skill for being a good traditional opera performer. Under Zhou's instructions, Wang's eyes lit up and became bright and intelligent - until they revealed her nimbleness.
After 1977, the year that Zhou passed away, Wang's father gradually lost contact with Zhou's family. Later Wang became a hammerer at Shanghai Drill Bits Factory. Although she remained enthusiastic about traditional opera, she never had a chance to perform on stage.
When Wang's father became sick in 2010, he frequently talked of his old friend Zhou and Zhou's son Zhou Zhixiang. To fulfil her father's dream, Wang started searching for the younger Zhou. Her efforts paid off. In February, 2011, Wang was reunited with her "brother" Zhou, who was by then living in Jinshan District in the south of Shanghai. It was already 24 years since the last time the two met.
By chance, on the day of their reunion, a friend of the younger Zhou opened his own Huaiju Opera salon and Zhou invited Wang to attend its opening ceremony. During the event, Wang was encouraged to sing several excerpts. Her performance stunned the audience. Amazed at Wang's hidden talent, Zhou decided to teach Wang Huaiju Opera. Wang then became the first female student at the Zhou school.
"On the stage you should become the role rather than yourself," Wang says.
Wang's voice is somewhat harsh, but she has managed to overcome this weakness skillfully. Before each performance, she usually spends a long time studying the personality and detailed emotions of the characters she portrays. In addition, the various postures and body language she displays on stage also impresses her audiences.
Apart from Huaiju Opera, Wang is also keen on Yueju Opera, Hebei Opera and Shanghai stand-up comedy. Wang's diversified interests help inspire her stage performances. For instance, the debut appearance of an ancient Chinese female general Mu Guiying is very charming in the Hebei Opera, much better than that in the Huaiju Opera or Yueju Opera, so Wang took this posture while playing the role of the general Mu in the Huaiju Opera and her portrayal of Mu was hailed by fans.
Then misfortune struck. Last December, Wang fell and hurt her right leg. She was scheduled to perform four excerpts at a Huaiju Opera performance in Pudong New Area some days later on the New Year's Eve. Determined to keep her promise to the audience and organizers, Wang still performed in spite of the pain.
Looking at the video clip of her performance, one can see her face sometimes twitching with pain.
Wang's perseverance and devotion to the operatic art won her the respect of others.
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