The Changning Shanghai Opera Troupe, which continues to move forward with two original works every year, was formerly known as the Shanghai Opera Troupe founded by Shanghai opera performance artist Gu Yuezhen in 1949. Last night, the "Years and Years of Treasures - Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Mr. Gu Yuezhen, a famous Shanghai opera artist", was staged at the Hongqiao Art Center, and multiple online platforms simultaneously broadcast live.
Chen Suping, concert director and artistic director and head of the Changning Shanghai Opera Troupe, said: "What supports us in holding the concert is not only the reverence and remembrance of Gu Yuezhen, but also the young generation to remember the soul of our 'hard work'. ”
Pictured: "Years flowing" concert scene Zu Zhongren photo (the same below)
Hold on to the soul of the regiment
Why do older artists tend to become famous at a young age? Why have they been able to create countless classic stage images? Why do many of them always maintain a strong artistic vitality? Chen Suping said: "Because acting is their heartfelt love. ”
When preparing and rehearsing this concert, Chen Suping repeatedly played the recording of Gu Yuezhen's singing before she was born for the young actors, and some actors listened to it and said with a skim: "This singing voice is quite simple." Chen Suping lit up for this sentence: "Just like cooking to cook green vegetables and tofu is the most difficult, simple singing voice to sing the taste, the most test of skills." Just can sing, do not pursue how to sing out of the rhyme. ”
Chen Suping hopes that the spirit of the efforts of the predecessors can arouse the enthusiasm and fighting spirit of a new generation of young actors: "When the older generation of artists performed in the countryside fields, the props were only a table and two chairs, the musical instruments were three pieces plus a drum board, and the open-air environment may not even have a decent platform, but it is a skill to let the villagers who come from afar hear the tears. What about us now? Even in the village theater, there are air conditioners warm, stereo surround, and occasionally eat a box lunch, and young people are bitter. ”
Last year, the Changning Shanghai Opera Troupe completed 120 performances throughout the year, which is the passing line in Chen Suping's view, but many actors are tired. Chen Suping was quite helpless: "Before, we sang more than 700 plays a year, sometimes 3 times a day, and they felt that it was not enough; now, they sing 1 in three days, they can't eat it." She stressed: "Our predecessor was the Shanghai Opera Troupe, and no matter what, the soul of the 'effort' troupe cannot be lost." The concert held to commemorate Gu Yuezhen also hopes to inspire the younger generation to pursue art and not forget the original heart. ”
Integrity innovation
Last night's concert began with Gu Yuezhen's version of "Zhao Yiman" in the "Report to the Party" singing segment, Chen Suping led the troupe actors and students of the Xinjing Middle School Chen Suping Shanghai Opera Inheritance Base to take the stage together, so that people can see the shanghai opera art passed on.
The Shanghai opera "Zhao Yiman" is one of the classic plays of Gu Pai art, and it is also the most classic stage image created by Gu Yuezhen before her death. In September 1954, the play participated in the East China Opera Observation Performance, and Gu Yuezhen won the first prize for actors. "You know, at that time, Gu Yuezhen already had a place in Shencheng and staged dozens of big dramas, but she still worked hard to launch the original innovative drama of Shanghai opera, praise new China, and shape the heroine on the opera stage." Chen Suping said that this boldness is touching.
In 2015, the Changning Shanghai Opera Troupe put "Zhao Yiman" on the stage again, and in December of the same year, the new version of the Shanghai opera "Zhao Yiman" was selected by the Ministry of Culture as an excellent play for the 70th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan and was staged in the Capital Chang'an Grand Theater.
That performance made Chen Suping remember vividly: "On the stage, Zhao Yiman was heroic and righteous; off the stage, the audience was in tears, and under the excitement of the crowd, an old gentleman stood up and shouted passionately to 'Down with Japanese imperialism', which made me who was entering the play at the time. Not only that, when the curtain came down, the audience could not play for a long time, and the actor who played the Japanese army in the play just stepped out of the side stage and was stopped by a sound of "roll down". Experienced in the performance, he immediately took off his hat and bowed deeply to Zhao Yiman and the audience, which eased the stalemate.
Chen Suping said bluntly: "From Gu Yuezhen's version of "Zhao Yiman" to the new version of "Zhao Yiman", this road is a continuation of the spirit of stage creation, and it is also the persistence of Shanghai opera people. (Xinmin Evening News reporter Zhu Yuan)