2008年4月23日星期三

Beijing opera

Beijing opera
Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century.[1] The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.[2] Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south.[3] The art form is also enjoyed in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju. It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.[4]

Beijing opera features four main types of performers. Performing troupes often have several of each variety, as well as numerous secondary and tertiary performers. With their elaborate and colorful costumes, performers are the only focal points on Beijing opera's characteristically sparse stage. They utilize the skills of speech, song, dance, and combat in movements that are symbolic and suggestive, rather than realistic. Above all else, the skill of performers is evaluated according to the beauty of their movements. Performers also adhere to a variety of stylistic conventions that help audiences navigate the plot of the production.[5] The layers of meaning within each movement must be expressed in time with music. The music of Beijing opera can be divided into the Xipi and Erhuang styles. Melodies include arias, fixed-tune melodies, and percussion patterns.[6] The repertoire of Beijing opera includes over 1,400 works, which are based on Chinese history, folklore, and, increasingly, contemporary life.[7]
In recent years, Beijing opera has attempted numerous reforms in response to sagging audience numbers. These reforms, which include improving performance quality, adapting new performance elements, and performing new and original plays, have met with mixed success. Some Western works have been adopted as new plays, but a lack of funding and an adverse political climate have left Beijing opera's fate uncertain as the form enters the 21st century.



Beijing opera around the world

In addition to its presence in mainland China, Beijing opera has spread to many other places. It can be found in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities elsewhere.[37] Mei Lanfang, one of the most famous Dan performers of all time, was also one of the greatest popularizers of Beijing opera abroad. During the 1920s, he performed Beijing opera in Japan. This inspired an American tour in February of 1930. Although some, such as the actor Otis Skinner, believed that Beijing opera could never be a success in the United States, the favorable reception of Lanfang and his troupe in New York City disproved this notion. The performances had to be relocated from the 49th Street Theater to the larger National Theater, and the duration of the tour extended from two weeks to five.[38][39] Lanfang traveled across the United States, receiving honorary degrees from the University of California and Pomona College. He followed this tour with a tour in the Soviet Union in 1935.

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2008年4月10日星期四

Indonesia's "Fairy Island"-BaLi

Indonesia's "Fairy Island"-BaLi
Bali (BaLi) Indonesia is a popular tourist region, is small east Java in the Sunda Islands, is an island with an area of about more than 5560 km2, a population of about 2.8 million. West of Jakarta, the capital of Bali, about more than 1000 km, with the capital of Jakarta where the Java island across the sea, only 1.6 km away from.
Since the island is located in the tropics, and the impact of the oceans, climate moderate rainfall, soil is very fertile, Four Seasons Green Love, artless million flowers, towering trees. Bali sex life of flowers, everywhere decorated with flowers, therefore, the island is "Flower Island", and enjoy "the South China Sea Paradise", "Fairy Island" reputation. Most of the island is mountainous, island mountain horizon, the low-lying East West, four, five integrity of the volcanic cone peak, Argonne volcano (Bali) The 3142 m above sea level, is the island's highest point, near eruption in 963 years has been Batur volcano. Shanaoer island, and the Naoshaduer of other places, the beaches, the island is the most beautiful scenery of the beach, where fine sand beach width, the clear blue water. This tour each year to visitors from the States.
Bali Hindu temple in the wooden statue
Bali because of the history of India, cultural and religious implications, the residents mostly Hindu, Indonesia is the only local Hindu beliefs. But here the local Hindu India with the Hindu not the same as the Hindu doctrines and customs of the combination of Bali, known as the Hindu Bali. Residents of the three main worship God (Fantian, Visnu, the god Shiva) and Buddhism Sakyamuni, also worship the sun god, the god of water, Vulcan, such as the winds. Jiamiao Catholics have a home, family composition of the communities temple in the village of the village temple, the island has over 12,500 temples Block, therefore, the island called the "Temple of the Island 1000" reputation. Parthenon, the most famous was the ownership of the Millennium history Besakih temple Tomb, Tombs built in the temple known as "the world's navel" Argonne volcanic slopes, to the worship of this intermittent eruption of the volcano god. Mausoleum of the level of stone temple architecture, similar to Angkor and Cambodia.
Bali not only enchanting natural beauty, cultural and social customs of the rich also world famous. Bali's elegant classical dance scene in the world the art of dance in a unique position, is also the Indonesian folk dance in a bright wonderful work. Among them, the Lions and the Sword Dance most representative.
People wearing gorgeous traditional costumes, participate in the opening ceremony of the Bali Arts Festival.
Bali carving (wood carvings, stone carvings), painting and crafts also for its superb artistry, unique style is well known. Mushi everywhere on the island in the exquisite statues and reliefs, therefore, the island called the "Art Island" Fitch. Masi island is famous woodcarving centre. Bali painting unique, mostly plastic and mineral pigments in the paintings of coarse linen or canvas, themes drawn from the pastoral scenery and the people living habits, a strong feature. Therefore, Bali has been called the "Poetry Island," "East of Greece" reputation. Bird Island in the central part of the painting is Mu centres, museums, preservation of historical relics and many huge painting.
Mu birds in the vicinity, there was a square of the Millennium Kwu Tung ─ ─ as holes, only two-deep, three meters, inside a lifelike carving statues. Jiawei in the mountains are famous as stone carvings of the four, and five large stone statue in the shrine separation before the hillside built in the cold light of the presidential palace in Brazil.
Bali, as a Buddhist temple hole
Health in the central part of the island to a famous temple monkeys, and monkeys in droves. Its scenic north than the lake are. Beijing famous fight Mani, cool climate, which can be Yuanwang peak age of the Palestinian smoke Mimang are volcanic. Pakistan Pakistan are all below Lake also known for beautiful scenery. The southeast is the grid Yonggungsa Bali Dynasty famous ancient seat of the Tribunal, the magnificent palace style, surrounded by a moat, roofs painted over portraits of the torture of prisoners. Dan Island southwest waterfront that music, built temples shore Heights, as long wave erosion, and the island of Taiwan from 25 meters, forming islands, whenever tide rose, Zhou Yu Shen seems like the waves in floating, Like water palace.
Bali residents each year at the nearly 200 religious festivals every festival, song and dance mixed. Since the Bali 10,000 kinds of customs, scenery is lai. Therefore, it enjoys a variety of other, such as "Island of the gods", "devil island," "Luomanshi Island," "lai Island," "paradise island", "Magic Island", "Flowers Island. " In the natural sciences, biologists, 1869 Bali Rice also found that the Asian continent is the "peripheral", the typical distribution of Animals Asia thus far, and in the east it took less than 40 km width of the Strait of Lombok Island, it is an animal kind of Oceania.
Bali's economy was dominated by agriculture, abounds in rice, corn, coconut and coffee. Agricultural production to more collective form.