Current location:politics >>
Virtual Shaoxing Opera Actress Fascinates Young Chinese
politics9443People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
Virtual Shaoxing Opera Actress Fascinates Young Chinese
ByZhang Jiamin March 4, 2022Mao Weitao and her first "virtual apprentice" — Shangguan Wan'er |
Due largely to Mao Weitao's efforts to promote Shaoxing Opera, the 100-year-old art form, an intangible cultural heritage in China, has become increasingly popular among young Chinese. Under Mao's guidance, Shangguan Wan'er, a virtual actress, in November 2019 staged The Butterfly Lovers (a Chinese legend about the tragic romance between two lovers, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai). Tencent, one of China's best-known Internet groups, used holographic-projection technology to create Shangguan. The event was held in Butterfly Theater, in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province. Many people, including many young Chinese, were fascinated by Shangguan's graceful movements.
Given performers' beautiful singing and graceful movements, Shaoxing Opera has become one of the most popular traditional operas in China. The opera originated in the early 20th century in Shaoxing (a city in Zhejiang Province), it flourished in Shanghai during the 1930s, and it spread throughout the country within a short amount of time. As Shaoxing was the capital of the State of Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC), Shaoxing Opera was also called Yue Opera, or Yueju. Of China's 348 opera genres, Shaoxing Opera is among the best known, for its vitality. The Shaoxing Opera movie, The Butterfly Lovers, shot in 1953, was the first color opera film produced after the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. That movie had a far-reaching impact on the development of China's operas.
Mao, a State-level inheritor of Shaoxing Opera, has dedicated her life to pursuing her dream — displaying the unique charm of the opera. She has won (three times) the Plum Blossom Prize, the top prize for China's operas. She was once the director of Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe. Now, she is art director of Baiyue Cultural Creativity Co., Ltd. The troupe and the company are both in Hangzhou.
Shangguan, Mao's first "virtual apprentice," is a perfect Shaoxing Opera "actress." Assisted by high technology, Shangguan, who will always stay young and beautiful, can deliver both a visual and audio "feast" during her performances. Mao advised Tencent's developers as they designed Shangguan's image. To help viewers better understand the unique charm of the traditional opera, Mao not only provided the voice for her animated apprentice, but she also used motion-capture technology, by which her graceful movements were digitally recorded, so Shangguan could move — simultaneously — the way Mao moved.
"It was a new experience for me ... Through Shangguan, a product of modern science and technology, integrated with fashionable elements, we have done our best to promote traditional Chinese culture, and explored possibilities for the traditional art to become a more powerful cultural IP (intellectual property) in the new era," Mao has been quoted as saying. She hopes Shangguan will cause more young Chinese to "fall in love" with Shaoxing Opera.
Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe was established in 1984. Since then, Mao has captivated viewers with her wonderful performances. As a result, Xiaobaihua entered the golden age for development. "I believe Shaoxing Opera, which flourished in Shanghai during the 1930s, was 'born to be modern'," says Mao. She suggests greater efforts should be made to revitalize the traditional art form.
Mao hopes Butterfly Theater will become "the city's cultural living room," through which people from around the world will become fascinated with China's unique stage art. "I hope, in the near future, the theater will become a must-see destination for visitors to Hangzhou, just like tourists (from various countries) go to watch plays in London's West End or Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, and/or watch musicals on Broadway," says Mao.
Photos Supplied by Baiyue Cultural Creativity Co., Ltd.
(Women of China English Monthly January 2022 issue)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Stellar Stories news portal”。http://mauritania.downmusic.org/news-17c699895.html
Related articles
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
politicsARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers are undefeated this season ...
【politics】
Read moreFrench star halts Eurovision rehearsal in Israel protest
politicsThe Eurovision Song Contest has been left in turmoil after a raft of major crises unraveled just hou ...
【politics】
Read moreTerrifying moment woman comes face to face with a mountain lion in her backyard
politicsVideo footage captured the astonishing moment a woman came face-to-face with a mountain lion who was ...
【politics】
Read more
Popular articles
- Nadal returns to Roland Garros to practice amid doubts over fitness and form
- Chennai Super Kings stay in contention for IPL playoffs with 5
- Afghanistan flash flooding: Hundreds dead and missing
- We'll call the midwives to give whooping cough vaccinations to babies, say Labour's Wes Streeting
- Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
- Kaia Gerber exudes timeless glamour in a strapless minidress as she joins her co
Latest articles
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
Eurovision 2024: Winner Nemo to be welcomed home by Swiss fans
Switzerland triumphs at the most political Eurovision ever: Nemo wins scandal
Turncoat MP Natalie Elphicke 'lobbied Justice Secretary to pull strings to help her ex
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
Rhys Hoskins slugs 3
LINKS
- Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
- The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
- Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co
- Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
- Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
- Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
- Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
- What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
- Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
- 'The Apprentice,' about a young Donald Trump, premieres in Cannes