Mei Lang's hometown has a melodious rhyme, and the sacred place of opera has re-composed Huazhang. On the evening of October 23, the opening ceremony of the 2021 China Taizhou Mei Lanfang Art Festival and the award ceremony of the Taizhou "Mei Lanfang Art Award" were grandly held. Dong Wei, vice chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Performing Arts and former vice minister of culture, Zhang Aijun, member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and director of the Propaganda Department, Zhu Lifan, secretary of the Taizhou Municipal Party Committee, Xu Ning, deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee, Yang Zhichun, secretary of the party group and director of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Jiangsu Province, Ke Jun, general manager of the Jiangsu Performing Arts Group, Liu Zhen, director of the Beijing Mei Lanfang Memorial Hall, and Mei Lanfang, great-grandson Mei Wei, jointly launched the opening device. Zhu Lifan, secretary of the Taizhou Municipal Party Committee, delivered a speech, and Wan Wenhua, deputy secretary of the Taizhou Municipal Party Committee and acting mayor, presided.
Zhu Lifan said in his speech that Taizhou Prefecture built the Southern Tang Dynasty and the Wenchang Northern Song Dynasty, with profound cultural heritage, famous and sages, and Mei Lanfang, the master of Peking Opera art, is an outstanding representative of them. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Mr. Mei's death, and we pay tribute to the master in the name of art. With his unique style, bearded bones, and virtuous and artistic style, Mr. Mei pushed Chinese opera art to the peak of an era and contributed to the development of Chinese culture to this day. Since its inception in 2008, mei lanfang arts festival has become one of the most influential art events in the Chinese theater industry and one of the most iconic city business cards in Taizhou. This year's Meiyi Festival has a distinct theme and rich content, and Shang Changrong, Feng Yuping, Yu Kuizhi, Li Shengsu and other opera masters gather in Taizhou to help each other, which will surely become a grand event for the exchange and mutual learning of opera art, innovative development, and a grand event for nourishing the spiritual life of the masses and sharing the fruits of cultural development.
Zhu Lifan said that on the new journey of socialist modernization, we must take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, firmly grasp the direction of the advanced socialist culture, highlight the heritage and self-confidence of Jianghai culture, continuously enhance the soft power of urban culture, let culture nourish every citizen, let civilization infiltrate the entire city, and build a spiritual home that is uplifting and beautiful and happy.
Since the beginning of this year, Taizhou has focused on the goal of building a culturally strong city, and is committed to building a "Meilang Hometown Xiqu Holy Land", held the first "Baimei Competition" opera festival, and set up the Taizhou "Mei Lanfang Art Award". At the opening ceremony, the first Taizhou "Mei Lanfang Art Award" award ceremony was held. Guo Wei and Shi Xiaming were awarded the "Performing Arts Gold Star", Chen Xiang, Tang Da and Yan Hongyu were awarded the "Performing Arts Silver Stars", and Ji Chunyan, Chen Qunyao, Yang Cheng, Zhang Yijin and Zhou Meiling were awarded the "Performing Arts Rising Stars". The winners are all well-known domestic opera actors who actively contribute opera works on the Taizhou stage, because of the epidemic and other reasons, the award results were released online, and the winners sent their acceptance speeches through VCR.
After the opening ceremony, the guests enjoyed a wonderful opera special performance, which was hosted by the famous host Bai Yansheng.
Taizhou city leaders Lu Peimin, Yang Jie and others attended the opening ceremony, the city's pioneer models, high-level talents, representatives of literary and art workers, guests participating in the 12th China (Taizhou) International Medical Expo and representatives of citizens attended the opening ceremony.
It is understood that during the Meiyi Festival, the city will also hold the "Hundred Plums Competition" boutique repertoire (Peking Opera part) exhibition, the first "Mei Lanfang Cup" National Peking Opera Fan Contest, a series of activities to pay tribute to the master, etc., to create a Mei Lanfang cultural brand, inherit the opera culture, innovate the art of opera, and build Taizhou into a "Meilang hometown • opera holy land" with Wenxing Brigade and Tourism Zhangwen. (Text/Propaganda Department of Taizhou Municipal CPC Committee Photo/Gu Xiangzhong and Fang Yuting)
Source: Overseas Network