China News Agency, Beijing, November 14th, title: The 30-year exchange of Kunqu opera between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, Cai Zhengren, the mainland master, describes a new vision
Author Chen Jianxin
"Learn from each other, communicate, sing and learn Kunqu opera well together, I think both sides of the strait have a great responsibility." Cai Zhengren, a famous Kunqu opera performing artist and national first-class actor, accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency a few days ago, reviewing the past exchanges of Kunqu opera between the two sides of the strait , depicting a vision for the future of continuous communication.
Cai Zhengren, born in 1941, former director of the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, learned from Yu Zhenfei, Shen Chuanzhi and other famous Kunqu opera masters, and is a professional niche student. He won the 4th Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award.
Since his first visit to Taiwan in 1992, he has performed and taught opera in Taiwan many times, traveled across the Taiwan Strait to promote Kunqu opera, and forged a relationship with opera across the Taiwan Strait.
Going to Taiwan for the first time set off an upsurge of Kunqu Opera in Taiwan
In the early 1990s, the development of mainland Kunqu opera attracted the attention of Taiwanese Kunqu opera lovers.
In 1990, Taiwan’s Jia Xinyuan and other opera friends organized a “Kunqu Opera Tour” to Shanghai, and was amazed to see the performance of the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe.
Afterwards, Taiwan New Elephant Culture and Education Foundation Xu Boyun and Fan Manon sent an invitation to the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, hoping that they would perform in Taiwan.
"We also really wanted to perform Kunqu opera for Taiwan compatriots." Cai Zhengren told reporters.
In October 1992, Cai Zhengren, then head of the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, was invited to lead the troupe to Taiwan, becoming the first traditional Chinese opera troupe from mainland China to perform on the island, and performed on stage in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Tainan.
To their surprise, the performance drew a warm response.
Subsequently, Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe, Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Troupe and other mainland troupes were invited to visit Taiwan one after another, setting off a wave of Kunqu opera on the island. There were more and more lovers and related organizations, and the exchange of Kunqu opera between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait became more frequent.
"Taiwanese audiences are very attentive. Wherever they sing well and are wonderful, there is always warm applause from the audience." Recalling his many performances in Taiwan, Cai Zhengren has been deeply impressed by the professionalism of Taiwan audiences.
Enthusiastic exchanges and deep friendship with Taiwan song friends
Since performing in Taiwan in 1992, Cai Zhengren has visited Taiwan every few years, either leading a troupe to perform or giving lectures on opera.
In his close contacts, he has become friends with people in Taiwan's opera circles such as Zeng Yongyi and Hong Weizhu for many years.
Not long ago, Zeng Yongyi, who was known as the "Taiwan opera research master", passed away in Taipei, and Cai Zhengren was very sad.
"In the past few years, because of the epidemic, we have had fewer opportunities to meet each other. I didn't expect to say goodbye like this forever."
Cai Zhengren told the reporter that Mr. Zeng Yongyi and him met in the early days of Kunqu opera exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and they were old friends who "called brothers and sisters".
In Cai Zhengren's view, Mr. Zeng has profound literary attainments, he especially likes Kunqu opera, and has a good research on rhythm, libretto, and tune.
When Zeng Yongyi led a group of people from Taipei to visit the mainland, the two often communicated.
"I am very happy and honored to be able to make friends with Mr. Zeng and call them brothers and sisters."
Between the two sides of the strait, Cai Zhengren and Taiwanese opera friends jointly promoted the inheritance of Kunqu opera culture.
Zeng Yongyi and Hong Weizhu presided over the "Kunqu Opera Learning Program" in Taiwan. Mainland Kunququ performers, including Cai Zhengren, came to Taiwan many times to teach and participate in the cultivation of Taiwanese talents.
Cai Zhengren also starred in the new Kunqu opera "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" and "Qu Sheng Wei Liangfu" created by Zeng Yongyi, which became a good story.
It is the common wish of both sides of the strait to sing Kunqu opera well with the same language and the same species
In 2001, Kunqu Opera was included in the list of "Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity"; in 2004, the youth version of "The Peony Pavilion" produced by Bai Xianyong became popular at home and abroad; Kunqu opera lectures in some universities in mainland China have been very popular in recent years..... .This ancient drama with a history of more than 600 years is now rejuvenating.
"The phrase 'the audience of Kunqu opera is getting older' is no longer heard, and the majority of the audience is young." Cai Zhengren believes that with the increasing emphasis on education and culture, more and more people from both sides of the strait are now As young audiences enter the theater, their appreciation and professionalism are getting higher and higher.
In his view, Kunqu Opera is an artistic treasure of the Chinese nation, and the love for Kunqu Opera on both sides of the Taiwan Strait fully demonstrates that the two sides have the same roots and are inseparable.
"It is our common wish to be able to sing Kunqu opera well." Cai Zhengren said that in the future, he believes that cross-strait exchanges will gradually increase, and young people must take responsibility.
The eighty-year-old artist also hopes that when the epidemic situation improves further, he will have the opportunity to go to Taiwan to meet old friends and students again, and continue the hard-won 30-year history of Kunqu opera exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
(Finish)