Local opera: Yue Opera

CCTV.COM (04.09 2003 14:04)

    The Huanglongdong Park錛?or the Yellow Dragon's cave stages local

    opera performances known as Yue Opera every day. Over the years錛?it's established a loyal local following. The stories are usually about love between a beautiful girl and a poor student. More often than not錛?they end in tragedy.

    Yue Opera錛?originated in the area of Sheng County in Shaoxing錛?Zhejiang Province in the early period of the century錛?is a rapidly developed local opera with a short history in China. It was named "Yue Opera" because it has its origin in part of Yue State in the Spring and Autumn Period dating back about 2錛?00 years ago.

    By now錛?many years' development has made it a most important opera style next to Peking Opera in China錛?taking its theme from fairy tales錛?literary classics and historical stories.

    The voices of Yue Opera are soft and beautiful錛?and easy to learn. The famous and heart錛峳ending Chinese violin concerto Butterfly's Love drew its musical materials from Yue Opera.

    The male role in a Yue Opera play is always played by women and the characters appear exceptionally charming錛?natural and unrestrained.

    Yue Opera as a folk opera style has its origins in Hangzhou. If you come to Hangzhou and stroll along the lakeside in the early morning錛?you will certainly hear opera lovers heartily singing Yue Opera.

Editor:Inner Wu