Peking Opera artist Liu Changyu: A lifetime of artistic dedicationSome people have spent their lives rushing for their livelihoods, some people have wasted their time, and some people have dedicated their lives to art. Liu Changyu is such a person, she dedicated her life to the art form of Peking Opera, which is still promoted and passed on to this day. In ancient times, there was a folk saying: "The drama has no righteousness", and people believed that the performance of the drama was only to please the audience and was a tool for the entertainment of the royal family and nobles.
This prejudice continues to the present day, and some people still have prejudices against theater performers and film and television performers. So in the seventies and eighties in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, how did Liu Changyu resist the attention of the world and stand on the theater stage to perform? Liu Changyu was born in 1942 and has a prominent family. Her father, Zhou Dawen, was the mayor of Beiping City, and her mother was Zhou Dawen's third aunt, Liu Shi. Liu Changyu has developed a strong interest in Peking Opera since she was a child, thanks to her father Zhou Dawen's love for Peking Opera.
Since she was a child, she often listened to her father hum opera to her, popularized some knowledge of opera, and gradually cultivated her love for Peking Opera. In 1951, at the age of 9, Liu Changyu was admitted to the Chinese Opera School, and for the next few years, she continued to learn the singing techniques and performing arts of Peking Opera. Under the guidance of Xun Huisheng, Liu Changyu gradually showed excellent acting skills, especially in the role of Hua Dan.
With the passage of time, Liu Changyu's acting talent was gradually valued by various famous Peking Opera teachers, and she received personal guidance from Xue Yanqin, Yu Zhenfei, Li Yuru and other artistic masters. As her strength grew, she became a powerful actor in the troupe and worked as a drama teacher in school. The two dramas "Selling Water" and "Red Lantern" starring Liu Changyu, who has attracted much attention in the Peking Opera industry, have completely spread her name throughout the country. However, fame comes with troubles and challenges.
Liu Changyu's singing voice problems and family background have become weapons for people to attack her. Liu Changyu's marriage experience was also not smooth. After her first marriage, her husband died of illness, leaving her in great grief. But she didn't give up and struggled to find support in life. In the theater, she met a martial arts actor named Bai Jiyun, who cared for Liu Changyu and gave her warmth and happiness. Therefore, Liu Changyu chose to enter the palace of marriage with him.
With the support of her family, she picked herself up and returned to the stage of art. In 1978, Liu Changyu made a comeback, participated in many classic plays, and served as the executive vice president of the Peking Opera of China and other important positions. Her reputation is skyrocketing, she was specially appointed as honorary president of the Vienna Conservatory, and was elected as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference for many consecutive terms. Today, she is the artistic director and committee director of the National Peking Opera House, and has made great contributions to the inheritance and development of Peking Opera.
Liu Changyu had a rough life, but she always adhered to her love and persistent pursuit of Peking Opera. Her story shows us that art knows no borders and is a life-changing force. Everyone should pursue the career they love, stick to their original intention, and not be swayed by external pressure and difficulties. Liu Changyu's story sparked my thinking about Peking Opera and traditional arts. In today's society, traditional arts face many challenges, and young people's interest in traditional arts is gradually decreasing.
I believe that we should increase the publicity and promotion of traditional arts, so that more people can understand and love traditional arts. At the same time, we should also strengthen the training and support of young artists and provide them with a better platform for learning and development. Finally, I would like to ask readers a question: what do you think about traditional art? Do you think traditional art still has an important place in modern society? Welcome to leave a message to discuss.
Liu Changyu: Liu Changyu, the star of Peking Opera in the passage of time, an aging Peking Opera artist, has gradually faded from the public eye in recent years, devoting more energy to future generations of actors to teach Peking Opera skills and singing methods. On July 25, 2020, she participated in a concert of famous Peking Opera artists held in Beijing, showing the charm of the older generation of artists. On January 14 this year, Liu Changyu celebrated her 79th birthday, received blessings from all parties, and photos of her youth were also circulated on the Internet, showing her artistic temperament.
However, time passed inexorably, and the old artists gradually left the stage. Liu Changyu hopes to pass on the spirit of Peking Opera and let this intangible cultural heritage continue to shine. In recent years, Liu Changyu has chosen to devote his energy to junior actors, granting them Peking Opera skills and singing methods. Her love and sense of responsibility for Peking Opera has allowed her to pass on her experience to the next generation, hoping that they will continue to carry forward the spirit of Peking Opera.
In addition to teaching skills, Liu Changyu is occasionally invited to participate in some performances to present wonderful Peking Opera performances to the audience. Her spirits and excellent singing make people feel the true charm of the older generation of artists. On January 14 this year, Liu Changyu celebrated her 79th birthday, and she received heartfelt wishes from all parties. Photos of her youth can be seen on the Internet, when she had thick black hair and a bright smile, showing her unique artistic temperament.
The years have left marks on her, but she still maintains her love and dedication to Peking Opera. However, the years are not spared. In June this year, Liu Changyu apologized to the guests at a memorial service for his friend Qian Haoliang. She said in the video that she was late and was very sorry for delaying everyone's time. She recalled that Qian Haoliang was a very good Peking Opera artist, and his love for Peking Opera could be described as a lifelong struggle.
This memorial service will make people feel that time has irreversibly passed, and some of the old artists have become old and infirm, and some have passed away. When looking back on Liu Changyu's experience, we can't help but lament the passage of time. The grievances and resentments of youth gradually dissipated under the washing of the years, leaving behind the love and persistence of Peking Opera. As China's intangible cultural heritage, Peking Opera has shown its unique charm in the inheritance of generations of artists.
Liu Changyu hopes to pass on the spirit of opera of the older generation, so that Peking Opera can continue to shine in its field and maintain the glory of the national intangible cultural heritage. Liu Changyu's story tells us that time is constantly flowing and years will bring us changes, but for a person who truly loves his career, years are just a kind of growth and accumulation. Liu Changyu's persistence and dedication are something we should learn from and admire, and she has made important contributions to the cause of Peking Opera with her own efforts and dedication.
In the end, let us look forward to Liu Changyu continuing to devote his life to learning Peking Opera in the days to come, passing on the spirit of the older generation of opera, and letting Peking Opera, the "intangible cultural star" continue to shine in its field. At the same time, we also hope that more people can pay attention to and support the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, so that our traditional culture can rejuvenate in today's society. Finally, let's think about the question: how do you feel and inspire Liu Changyu's story? Welcome to leave your comments.