China News Service, Beijing, March 7th: In the era of short videos, how can opera culture reach young people?
Author Zhao Yejiao Zhang Bin Tong Xiaoyu
For Cai Zhefei, a representative of the National People's Congress, deputy director of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Theater and director of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe, what made her most gratified in the past year was that she had successfully "out of the circle" after performing Yue opera for decades.
During the National Two Sessions in 2024, Cai Zhefei, deputy to the National People's Congress, deputy director of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Theater and leader of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe, attended the meeting at the Great Hall of the People.
(Photo provided by interviewee)
Data shows that the Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe will perform more than 200 performances in 2023, setting a record high, and it is "hard to get a ticket" for every performance.
Among them, 80% of the audience of the environmental Yue opera "New Longmen Inn" have never been exposed to Yue opera before, and most of them are young people.
Young Yue opera actors Chen Lijun and Li Yunxiao who starred in the play have become "stars" on social networks.
The success of traditional opera "out of the circle" inspired Cai Zhefei's thinking on the development of Yue Opera.
"Practice basic skills and inherit good traditional operas is what Yue opera people have been doing. But we need to think more about how to bring opera culture closer to young people in the self-media era where short videos are the mainstream communication channel and use opera to showcase it. It is very important to display Chinese culture and show the sentiment and spirit of the Chinese people." Recently, Cai Zhefei said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service.
During the National Two Sessions this year, she made suggestions, hoping to use Chinese opera, including Yue opera, as a business card for external exchanges, and support Chinese opera in "promoting talents and operas" by establishing a global Yue opera cultural community and establishing a new media forum for Chinese opera communication. , out of the circle, out to sea."
How can Yue Opera be better "exposed overseas"?
Cai Zhefei said that since the reform and opening up, overseas Chinese have initiated many Yue Opera troupes.
She suggested that we should contact and organize to form a global Yue Opera cultural community and strengthen international cultural exchanges and cooperation.
For example, in France, we can take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and the China-France Culture and Tourism Year to organize exchange activities with the theme of Chinese opera culture.
In addition, it is necessary to create a "play list" and a list of opera characters with global influence to accelerate the international spread of China's excellent traditional culture.
As an opera actor, why does Cai Zhefei pay so much attention to communication?
This comes from Cai Zhefei’s experience in leading a group to perform at grassroots levels in Wenzhou, Taizhou and other places in Zhejiang in 2023.
The scene was crowded with people, and almost everyone in the audience had a mobile phone, constantly taking pictures of the cast and crew performing and working.
Seeing this, she was touched by the public's enthusiasm for opera, but she was also secretly worried because of the ban on filming during official performances of opera in the theater.
Although she was a little resistant at first, as these videos spread online, she felt better.
"This has allowed our young actors to accumulate many young fans, allowing them to enjoy the traditional opera stage more and become more confident."
Stills from the ambient Yue opera "New Dragon Inn".
(Photo provided by interviewee)
In particular, troupe actors Chen Lijun and Li Yunxiao "got out of the circle" on the short video platform. Their years of traditional opera art performance stage materials were "deeply dug" by netizens, and then "got into the trap" of Yue Opera.
"I am even more gratified that their love for traditional opera art, which has lasted for more than ten years, has finally been seen by the public." Cai Zhefei said.
In Cai Zhefei's view, the plots and stories of traditional operas can completely nourish the spiritual world of contemporary people, especially young audiences.
Five years ago, she won the 29th Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award.
Since then, in addition to her work in theater management, Cai Zhefei has also worked with drama artists to create a new historical drama "Su Qin" in which she stars, showing the personal struggle experience of the historical figure Su Qin during the Warring States Period.
"Su Qin is a political strategist. His life is very inspirational. I am inspired almost every time I play him. I hope that through traditional opera, I can inspire the audience, especially the young audience, to deal with difficulties more actively and bring more benefits to the audience." People’s spiritual strength.” Cai Zhefei said.
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