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Ancient opera still in good voice
By UNESCO website |
April 21, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
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KUNQU Opera developed under the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) in the city of Kunshan, situated in the region of Suzhou in present-day Jiangsu Province in southeast China. With its roots in popular theater, the repertory of songs evolved into a major theatrical form. Kunqu is one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera still performed today.
It is characterized by a dynamic structure and melody - kun qiang - and classic pieces such as "The Peony Pavilion" and "The Hall of Longevity." It combines song and recital and a complex system of choreographic techniques, acrobatics and gestures.
The opera features a young male lead, a female lead, an old man and various comic roles, in traditional costumes. Kunqu songs are accompanied by a bamboo flute, a small drum, wooden clappers, gongs and cymbals, to punctuate actions and emotions on stage. Renowned for the virtuosity of its rhythmic patterns - chang qiang - Kunqu opera has had a big influence on other forms of Chinese opera, such as Sichuan or Beijing opera.
The opera has suffered a gradual decline since the 19th century because of the high-level technical knowledge it requires from its audience. Of the 400 arias regularly sung in opera performances in the mid-20th century, only a few dozen continue to be performed.
Kunqu Opera was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2008.
It is characterized by a dynamic structure and melody - kun qiang - and classic pieces such as "The Peony Pavilion" and "The Hall of Longevity." It combines song and recital and a complex system of choreographic techniques, acrobatics and gestures.
The opera features a young male lead, a female lead, an old man and various comic roles, in traditional costumes. Kunqu songs are accompanied by a bamboo flute, a small drum, wooden clappers, gongs and cymbals, to punctuate actions and emotions on stage. Renowned for the virtuosity of its rhythmic patterns - chang qiang - Kunqu opera has had a big influence on other forms of Chinese opera, such as Sichuan or Beijing opera.
The opera has suffered a gradual decline since the 19th century because of the high-level technical knowledge it requires from its audience. Of the 400 arias regularly sung in opera performances in the mid-20th century, only a few dozen continue to be performed.
Kunqu Opera was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2008.
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