during a televised Shaoxing opera talent competition in 2006. '' by
Shanghai Theatre Academy students in 2014. '' by
Shanghai Theatre Academy students in 2014. Male Shaoxing opera actors are few in number but they do exist. ,
Shanghai. A
yangqin player, several
huqin players, a percussionist, a
cellist, and a "conductor" can be seen.
Pre-history Prior to 1906, the antecedent to Yue opera was story-singing. It was initially an entertainment for people in Sheng
County. Its lyrics are mostly collected from conversations between farmers while they were working. Audiences loved these ballads because of their vivid description of daily life. The
Second Opium War interfered with the local economy of Sheng County, located in the Jiangnan area, near Shanghai. Since Sheng County agriculturalists were experiencing difficulty earning their livelihoods, they started to turn this folk art into a second source of income. Over years, the accumulation of lyrics built up the fundamental source materials for
Yue opera, and the folk music gradually developed its own style. Performers also began to integrate simple acting and accompanying instruments into the folk music. It gradually became well known, both in
Sheng County and neighboring counties.
Beginnings According to oral history passed down by Yue Opera practitioners, Yue Opera began in 1906.
The rise of Shaoxing Literal Opera in the early 1930s There are two well-known explanations for the rise of Shaoxing Literal Opera at that time. One of them is economic incentive. In the early 20th century, young Chinese women had only two options to earn their livelihoods. They were either sent to a wealthy family as a
child bride, or to the factories to work. In 1929, the
Wall Street crash had tremendous global influence. Many factories in Shanghai closed down, and as a result, women often had no option but to attend female-performed opera classes to earn a living. These women usually received three months acting training, and then participated in performances to gain more experience in acting. Another explanation was that the performing style of Shaoxing Literal Opera fit with women's nature . As young women tend to be more glorious on stage according to Sheng County's newspaper at that time, the tender and gentle features of Shaoxing Literal Art became more outstanding under such highlighting. Furthermore, Four Gong Qiang worked more vividly and delicately under women's performances.
Evolution Originating in the folk song and ballad singing of rural areas in Zhejiang, by drawing on the experience of other developed Chinese opera forms such as Peking opera and
Kunqu,
Yueju became popular in Shanghai in early 1930s. During the
Second Sino-Japanese War, Yueju performers in Shanghai launched a movement to reform the Yueju performance which drew influences from new-style literature (a part of the
New Culture Movement) and Western drama and film, making their opera remarkably different from other forms in China. A director-centered system replaced the scene plot system that dictated how a part or scene should be acted. There was an increasing focus on the depiction of the personality and psychology of characters. New operas on new themes were developed including an adaption of
Lu Xun's novel "New Year Sacrifice"《祝福》. After the
foundation of People's Republic of China,
Yueju was welcomed by the ruling
Chinese Communist Party at first, and reached a pinnacle popularity in late 1950s and early 1960s. During this period there was increased emphasis on dramatic realism and expressionism.
Two Stage Sisters is a 1964 movie featuring Shaoxing Opera. In the new era, Shaoxing opera was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list. == Notable actors ==