The month of July will have a plethora of Chinese opera performances. What is notable about this show is that in many cases they involve operatic forms and troupes that have never visited Taiwan before.
With the strong encouragement of opera scholar Tseng Yung-yi (曾永義), the CKS Cultural Center has thrown its support behind invitations to notable opera troupes from China. One of the high points, the arrival of the Hunan Province Hsiang Opera Company (湖南省湘劇院) to perform four shows in Taipei was announced yesterday.
At the press conference announcing this important event, Tseng said that at a conservative estimate, there are probably 300 to 400 kinds of Chinese opera in existence. Many of these forms are a combination of different influences, and in bringing over operatic forms from China it is possible to see some of these artistic influences in their pure form. "[Hsiang opera] is a very original music that forms the basis for much early Taiwanese music," he said. "Having the chance to watch such shows reveals different elements within our musical tradition."
PHOTO COURTESY OF CKSCC
This is the first time that a major Hsiang opera troupe has visited Taiwan. Their program of four operas includes three recognized classics and one new work that has already won many important prizes in China. The troupe, comprised of 53 people, will be arriving in Taipei on July 14 and will perform from July 18 to 21.
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