FOREWORD
As the second largest opera genre in China, Yue Opera is regarded as the “iconic emblem” of Zhejiang culture. The beauty of Yue opera lies in its delicate costumes, dynamic performance, soft singing voice and impressive lyrics, sinking in people’s hearts. In collaboration with the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, China Cultural Centre in Sydney is proud to launch this online exhibition on our website and social media, which will introduce the impressive Yue Opera costumes by showcasing the patterns and colours of “Xiaobaihua” Yue Opera, and also the amazing performance.
Yue Opera costumes stand out among various Chinese opera genres by its softness, elegance and beauty. It draws on the essence of traditional Chinese culture, including ancient Chinese painting and calligraphy, and demonstrates the unique aesthetics of Jiangnan by every stitch. When it comes to clothing materials, the softness of silk, satin and georgette commonly used in Yue Opera costumes set off the lyrical beauty of the singing.
《天之骄女》 The Proud Women
本剧于1983年首演，内容为唐代诸王子争夺太子之位，武媚娘在其间揭穿阴谋，化险为夷，一步步踏上影响国政之途。呈现出越剧经典流派唱腔，彰显青年演员特有的率真、靓丽和激情。全剧承载传统、与时俱进，恒久经典！
The play, which made its public debut back in 1983, tells the story of how Wu Meiniang exposed the conspiracy among the princes who fought against each other to be the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, and how she managed to overcome many difficulties before finally taking the political control of the country. The play is performed in the classic singing tune of Yue Opera and displays such unique characteristics of young actors as candor, beauty and passion. The play is resounding and classic, as it keeps pace with modern times while retaining the tradition.
In addition to showing the charm of Yue Opera costumes, this online exhibition also staged four classic excerpts from Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Theater including “Lu You and Tang Wan“, “The Butterfly Lovers“, “The Proud Women“, and “A Clever Girl Called Jiujin”. These shows are vividly interpreted by the artists. The singing, performance, and choreography are both inherited and innovative, highlighting the elegance, delicacy and beauty of Yue Opera, and showing the charm of traditional Chinese art.
Let’s get immersed in the wonderful performances by the talented artist and enjoy the beauty of Yue opera costumes.
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