The legend of the Kunqu opera clown, the master of performing arts Liu Yilong bid farewell to the stage
In the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, there was sad news that Liu Yilong, an expert who enjoys special government allowances from the State Council and a national first-class actor, died at 14:45 pm on December 13 at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital at the age of 83. The passing of this representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage project makes people look back on his great achievements on the Kunqu Opera stage.
Liu Yilong was born in Wuhan, but ushered in the beginning of his acting career at the Shanghai Opera School. When he was a teenager at the time, he happened to meet the Kunqu Opera class that was recruited for the first time by the Shanghai Opera School. After becoming one of them, his opera journey officially began, from Xiaosheng to Wusheng, and then to Huamian, Lao Dan also acted, and finally integrated into the ugly line, becoming the representative of the Kunqu Opera Harlequin, known as "Kuntan Qing Ugly".
Under the cultivation of the Shanghai Opera School, Liu Yilong became the first generation of Kunqu opera actors in New China, laying a solid foundation for him in the field of art. He once recalled that in those days, the monthly allowance was only 14 yuan and 8 jiao, but his love for art and respect for the school made him a proud disciple in the eyes of Principal Yu Zhenfei.
Liu Yilong's acting career began in 1961 when he joined the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, and since then he has become a unique artist on the Kunqu Opera stage. His harlequin image is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and he has created a series of classic characters such as Lou Arat, Zhu Bajie in "Monkey King Three Fights White Bone Spirit", and Gao Lishi in "Palace of Eternal Life". He has won many awards for his acting skills, including the Outstanding Performance Award at the Shanghai Youth Association, the Outstanding Performance Award at the Shanghai Theatre Festival, and the Supporting Actor Award for Magnolia Theatre Performing Arts.
Liu Yilong also cooperated with old partners such as Liang Guyin and created a number of successful plays, such as "Water Margin: Captured Alive by Tea". His acting career has injected new elements, presenting many creative and ingenious works, and has contributed a unique strength to the development and inheritance of Kunqu Opera.
He not only created the image of a harlequin loved by the audience on the stage, but also cultivated a large number of outstanding harlequin actors in the world, and his students are all over the country, making outstanding contributions to the inheritance and development of Kunqu opera.
Liu Yilong's artistic contribution is not only on the stage, but also his innovation in the language of Kunqu opera harlequin has injected new vitality into this form of performance. His recitation of local language characteristics such as Chuanbai, Yuebai, and Wuhan Bai enriches the expressive techniques of Kunqu Opera and makes the image of the harlequin more full and vivid.
Although Liu Yilong's passing is regrettable, his brilliant performance in the field of Kunqu opera will always be remembered. His harlequin legend is not only a precious contribution to Kunqu Opera, but also a inheritance of the artistic spirit. His passing is sad, but the artistic treasures he left behind will continue to inspire future generations to continue to explore and continue to perpetuate the legacy of Kunqu Opera.