The "Brilliant Youth - Peking Opera Future Stars Promotion Training" phase performance, organized by the China Peking Opera Arts Foundation, was held in Beijing during the summer vacation. Nearly a hundred teachers and students from the Shanghai Theatre Academy's College of Traditional Chinese Opera participated, creating a significant impact in the Beijing opera community with their exquisite skills and excellent spirit.
Despite the intense summer heat, the enthusiasm of the capital's audience for watching the performances was undiminished. For three consecutive nights, the Beijing People's Theatre was packed, with applause and cheers resounding throughout the venue.
On the evening of July 14, the performance began with the Peking Opera tune "Journey to the Suburbs of Beijing," played by 18 students from the Traditional Chinese Opera Music major of the Shanghai Theatre Academy's College of Traditional Chinese Opera.
The Peking Opera "Black Whirlwind Li Kui," an excellent repertoire of the Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre, featured Ruan Dengyue, a recent graduate of the School of Chinese Opera and a rising star in the Shanghai Youth Peking Kunqu Opera Troupe, in the role of Li Kui. Thanks to the support of the China Peking Opera Arts Foundation's "Peking Opera Future Stars Promotion Training" and the focused development by the Shanghai Youth Peking Kunqu Opera Troupe, Ruan Dengyue has made significant strides in just three to four years, transitioning from a Kunqu Opera painted face role to a versatile Peking Opera painted face actor. With his solid foundation and passionate performance and under the careful guidance of the renowned painted face artist An Ping, he vividly portrayed Li Kui's character as someone who is fiercely loyal and straightforward.
The entire performance of "Black Whirlwind Li Kui" was well-coordinated, with notable performances by young students Wang Kehan, Liang Runze, Zhao Xu and Quan Jiahao in the roles of Song Jiang, Wang Lin, Mantangjiao and Yan Qing respectively, showcasing the unity and spirit of the entire cast.
The growth of young students is a testament to the dedication and efforts of veteran artists and teachers. Last year, Peking Opera performing artist Liu Changyu meticulously taught the College of Traditional Chinese Opera the piece "Chuncao Breaks into the Hall", and this year, she passed on her representative work "Yan Yan" to young actress Zhou Zhiru, personally guiding and instructing her at the performance venue.
Under the guidance and instruction of renowned artists and experienced teachers such as Tian Enrong, Zhou Baisui, Lu Yiping, Zhang Youlin, Xiong Mingxia and Yang Yiju, the two classic excerpts performed this time fully showcased the youthful vigor of the young students.
Liu Yuanchao's "Tongtianxi" and "Battle of Jizhou", Zhai Hanbing's "Stealing the Command", Zhang Jianfeng's "The General and the Premier", Zhao Xu's "Hongniang", and Ruan Dengyue's "Sitting in the Camp and Stealing the Horse" all demonstrated the vibrant potential of the next generation of Peking Opera talents. Particularly noteworthy was the simultaneous appearance of three young painted face actors, covering the categories of copper hammer, frame and martial painted face, adding a bright spot to the talent cultivation in this scarce field.
It is worth mentioning that the student band from the Shanghai Theatre Academy's Traditional Chinese Opera Music program performed throughout the three shows without sheet music. This not only tested the students' professional skills and adaptability but also showcased their understanding and love for traditional Chinese opera accompaniment. Their seamless coordination and precise execution of every note added great brilliance to the performances.
Peking opera artists and experts such as Ma Mingjun, Ma Mingqun, Chen Guoqing, Li Xin, Qiu Yun, Liu Yaochun, Wang Yuzhen, Zhao Jingbo, Zhang Guanzheng, Shang Huimin and Shu Tong watched the performances and enthusiastically encouraged the young students from the Shanghai Theatre Academy who were selected for the "Future Star Training Program." They fully affirmed the STA's efforts in meticulously cultivating Peking opera talents and praised the Chinese Peking Opera Art Foundation's initiative to develop a "three-star" echelon of talents.
For this showcase performance, the faculty and students of the Shanghai Theatre Academy's College of Traditional Chinese Opera worked tirelessly, braving the summer heat and rehearsing without rest for a month, all while balancing their teaching and rehearsal schedules. They entered the rehearsal hall at dawn and left at dusk, rigorously practicing every day, focusing on the quality of the repertoire and the performers' spirit. Through the collective efforts of all cast and crew members, the performance was warmly received by Peking opera enthusiasts in the capital and unanimously praised by leaders and experts, bringing honor to STA.
The faculty and students of the Shanghai Theatre Academy's College of Traditional Chinese Opera will earnestly study and implement the spirit of the 20th CPC Central Committee's Third Plenary Session and the spirit of STA's Third Party Congress. They will continue to uphold the school motto of "Pursuing Excellence", constantly exploring new fields and heights in traditional Chinese opera art, and contribute to the inheritance and development of China's outstanding traditional culture, as well as to STA's goal of becoming a model university for the best practices of Xi Jinping's cultural thought.
