Chao opera people should tell the story of the times well

In October last year, Yao Xuanqiu's inheritance of Chao opera masterpiece appreciation meeting was held at the Guangdong Arts Theatre. Nanfang Daily reporter Qiu Minye photographed

Chao opera ushered in a new spring, an ancient drama with a history of nearly 600 years, which is new and revitalized.

In the past year, the China Academy of Performing Arts opened the first full-time undergraduate class of Chao opera, increased the intensity of talent training, and the trainees boarded the CCTV Opera Spring Festival Gala in the New Year; the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guangdong Province also reviewed and approved the regulations on the protection and inheritance of Chao opera in Shantou, Chaozhou and Jieyang, setting a precedent for coordinated legislation in the cultural field throughout the country, so that the development of Chao opera has a law to follow; "Secret Traffic Station", "Wanghai Tide", "Hero Long Song" and other plays have been staged one after another, and have received praise...

"In 2020, when General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Chaoshan Province, he mentioned that 'the intangible cultural heritage of Chaozhou, represented by Chao embroidery, Chao porcelain, Tide sculpture, Chao opera and Gongfu tea, Chaozhou cuisine, etc., is a treasure of Chinese culture. It is necessary to strengthen the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, actively cultivate inheritors, and let intangible cultural heritage bloom with more charming brilliance', I still think back to this day. This is the honor of Chao opera, which greatly enhances the self-confidence of Chaoshan culture, and Chao opera will surely develop better and better. On the occasion of the New Year, Yao Xuanqiu, a well-known Chao opera performance artist, accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from Nanfang Daily, talking about the construction of Guangdong's culturally strong province and the inheritance and development of Chao opera.

Talk about creation The creators of chao opera should come up with good scripts

Nanfang Daily: At last year's Literary Congress and The National Congress, the General Secretary put forward 5 hopes for literary and art workers.

Yao Xuanqiu: Very fortunately, I participated in the 11th Wendai Conference, and these 5 points hope that for Chao opera people, whether they are doing dramas or being people, they have the significance of navigation lights.

I have 3 points of experience. First of all, the creation of Chao chao opera should keep up with the times and create fine products. We are in the great era of national rejuvenation, and Chao opera people should think about how to tell the grand story of the times in this context. The script is the basis of a play, and the creators of Chao opera must first come up with a good script, use Chao opera to tell a good Chinese story, and provide a stand-up script for the actors.

Second, keeping the integrity and innovation go hand in hand, which is the next development direction of Chao opera. Shouzheng is the preservation of excellent and characteristic art of drama, and innovation is to create new works in line with the times, actively absorb new elements such as stage art, lighting, and costumes, and integrate innovation.

Third, Chao opera actors should be upright, based on the people, and pursue the value of life in the performance of artistic masterpieces for the people. In my opinion, virtue and art are the highest evaluation of an artist. Without virtue as a foundation, no matter how high the art can stand.

Talking about the development of Chao opera creation and intangible cultural heritage protection are thriving

Nanfang Daily: How do you feel about the development of Chao opera in recent years?

Yao Xuanqiu: As far as Chao opera is concerned, the creation of plays such as "Secret Traffic Station" and "Red Army Ammu" has shown a prosperous situation, and it is extremely outstanding in the protection of intangible cultural heritage. Last year, Shantou, Chaozhou and Jieyang coordinated legislation to protect Chao opera, so that the development of Chao opera has a law to follow.

I personally participated in the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Annual Person award, was hired as an honorary professor of the China Academy of Performing Arts, and also won the National March 8th Red Flag Bearer, the National Outstanding Communist Party Member, the Nanyue Innovation Award and other honors. All this honor goes to the drama genre. According to the Chaoshan people's algorithm, after the New Year, I will be 88 years old. At this age, many people are living in the old age at home, but for the sake of drama, I am willing to contribute as much as I can, and I participate in every activity with a sense of mission. I belong to the Chao opera in this life, and I sincerely hope that this "southern flower" will be more colorful.

Talk about inheritance I hope to invite more old artists to "go out of the mountains" to pass on their art

Nanfang Daily: What suggestions do you have for the development of Chao opera?

Yao Xuanqiu: In the past year, although the performance was affected by the epidemic, it was a brilliant year for the development of Chao opera. For the future, I have 3 hopes.

First, I hope that the development and innovation of Chao opera will still be based on tradition. The inheritance of Chao opera should be rigorous and serious, only in this way can the characteristics not be lost and can go further. I hope to invite more well-known old artists to teach their skills, because they are all in the tradition of Chao opera.

Second, the development and innovation of Chao opera should keep pace with the times. In the new year, can Chao opera create a new repertoire on the themes of rural revitalization and common prosperity? Hopefully, more works reflecting this era will emerge.

Third, Chao Chao opera should continue to "go out." Chao opera originated in Chaoshan province, and the chao people are all over the world, which is an important communication link for the chao people. In the future, chao operas should continue to "go out", go to the whole country, and go abroad.

Southern Daily reporter Xu Ziming