Xiqu

Research Institute of Regional Opera Legacy of Heze Municipal, Shandong

The development of Shandong opera has a very long history. Based on the vocal styles of the different cultural regions, the opera can be categorised as northwestern Lu, southwestern Lu, central Lu, southern Lu and eastern Lu. Heze culture, which belongs to the southwestern Lu area has profound depth; in the words of Sima Qian, it represents “the centre of heaven and earth”. The Research Institute of Regional Opera Legacy of Heze Municipal of Shandong is bringing opera enthusiasts a selection of Shandong operas which covers five regional genres, including Daxianzi Opera, Zaobang Opera, Liangjiaxian Opera, Dapingdiao Opera and Shandong Bangzi Opera. The first four genres will make their debuts in Hong Kong and they are going to fully demonstrate the vibrantly emotive, bold and rustic charm of Shandong opera. Daxianzi Opera is developed from the popular tunes and vernacular songs of the Yuan and Ming dynasties. The tune singing comes with the rustic and refined styles. The performance is intervened with exaggeration and subtlety. Stage movements are made in an exaggerated range, but the accompanied music played by xidi and other instruments is exquisite and mild. Mount Liangjia is a classic title of Daxianzi Opera, which has been restaged to revive the Shandong opera art. Zaobang Opera uses bangzi made of jujube wood as percussions, and the music is accompanied with the musical saw, with a rich variety of rhythms and set tunes. Liangjiaxian Opera is transformed from “flower-drum operas” sung by farmers. Its refreshing singing style has earned it the name of “half a bowl of honey”. Dapingdiao Opera was once popular in the five provinces and eight states. The instruments played in a martial scene consist of a pair each of large cymbals nao and bo, which are commonly called “the four big hand fans”. These are accompanied by the jianzi trombone to convey a majestic mood. Shandong Bangzi Opera is also called “a bangzi vocal style that risks one’s life”, indicating it is an assimilating manner. The finest actors of all these genres will be appearing in the programme, forming a truly rare and spectacular extravaganza on various Shandong opera genres.

Excerpts:Zaobang Opera Xu Long Executing his Own Son, Liangjiaxian Opera San La Fang, Dapingdiao Opera Winning Over Jiang Wei, Shandong Bangzi Opera The Ridge of the Five Phoenixes