| |
 |
Revolutionary opera makes a comeback
|
Song Yingwen
REVOLUTIONARY opera, or model Beijing opera, was created under the watchful eye of Mao Zedong's wife Jiang Qing during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). It refers to Beijing operas with a modern revolutionary theme and remained the only choice for entertainment for Chinese people during the decade-long Cultural Revolution.
Over the years, this unique art form seemed to be largely forgotten, but recently they have staged something of a comeback, and are being performed once again by opera troupes. In Shenzhen a series of excerpts from eight revolutionary operas were performed at the Shenzhen Grand Theatre yesterday.
But being the product of Cultural Revolution, there is disagreement over this revival. Some vow never to attend the operas because they represent a time of oppression and foolishness that is best forgotten. But some say they are delighted to see them back, associating them with pleasant memories of the old days. Here below are the opinions of several locals on the revival of revolutionary opera.
Luo Yingmei, 61, retired
I'm not interested in going to see revolutionary opera at all.
To me, to the generation of and above my age, our memories related to revolutionary opera are miserable. It was an age of turmoil: the whole country was in a tense and volatile situation, people were suffering from endless so-called "class struggle", and seeing revolutionary opera was not entertainment but a political assignment for us. Every time I hear the melodies of the operas, I recall all my suffering. I don't want to go through all these emotional turmoil any more.
The revival of revolutionary opera is the result of commercial publicity, not out of people's desire to watch them. Unlike some master works of art that gives people constant inspiration and encouragement in spirit, revolutionary operas are of little spiritual importance. Therefore, frankly speaking I don't see much positive meaning in putting them back on stage again.
Of course revolutionary operas are of some artistic value because they are produced by the very best artists of that time. It would be even better if people can add new ideas to it after reviewing the old versions.
Chang Qing, 37, vocalist
I would go to the opera if I had the time.
I have no aversion to revolutionary operas though I've actually performed them in school many times. I think that's because I didn't suffer too much during that period of time and I was too young to be aware of all the bitterness of real life then. Revolutionary operas bring me back to the innocent age of youth.
I think it's people's nostalgia for the past that brings the operas back today. You know when people get tired of something, they change their taste. Perhaps old-fashioned things like revolutionary operas are very much to the liking of people this year.
Wang Duo, 26, secretary
I don't have any plan for going to the opera at all, not because I hate it, but because I know little about it, and I have no interest in it at all.
Yes, I've seen them before and I know about the history of the revolutionary opera, but that didn't help to raise my interest in it. I guess it's because I've never had the chance to be involved in that particular period of time. To me it's just another category of opera and not the kind I like.
I don't think revolutionary operas are as good as other forms of Chinese opera. It's fun seeing the performers dressed in ordinary clothes but acting in the traditional way of Beijing opera. They lack grace. But it's coming back because there is market for it.
|
|
|
|
