Yao ShuiJuan

one minute on stage, ten years of work off stage, everyone can’t be successful casually

There is a saying in the Yue opera world that “three flowers are not as good as one Juan, and one Juan is not as good as one Dan.” From this, I deeply feel that Teacher Yao Shuijuan is a hardworking, comprehensive, practical, pioneering and innovative, advancing with the times, not satisfied with the status quo. The pioneer of Shaoxing opera reform and innovation.

First encounter with Yao Shuijuan

On May 8, 1968, there was an explosive news in the small mountain village where my hometown was. There was a cultural and artistic publicity team going to the countryside in the provincial capital to be stationed in my village tomorrow. Among them were the big names in the art circles and the stars of the future. The news aroused everyone’s eagerness. The next day, a propaganda team composed of teachers and students from Zhejiang Art School arrived. We went to the entrance of the village to greet them. From a distance, we saw a team of more than 50 people neatly and orderly, leading the “Zhejiang Literature and Art to the Countryside Propaganda Team”. The red flags, their unconventional hairstyles, costumes, and dresses made the villagers stunned.

I had just graduated from junior high school and I was considered half a cultural person in the village, so the team leader arranged me to act as a liaison officer. The liaison officer’s job is to report to the village leaders on the needs of the propaganda team in time, and what arrangements the village leaders have to communicate to me. Leader of the propaganda team. Play the role of a bridge of communication. The propaganda team leader’s surname is Kan. He is from Anhui. He is bold and humorous. He is a martial arts instructor at the school. He is very good with fighting. He often shows us his stunts in the field. When we get along for a period of time, we become like Peng. He He introduced me to the teachers and students in the propaganda team. When he introduced Yao Shuijuan, he appeared to be very solemn: Yao Shuijuan is a master of a generation, a figure of national treasure level, a pioneer and practitioner of Yue Opera, and has served in Zhejiang Province. The vice chairman of the Dramatists Association, a representative of the Provincial People’s Congress and a member of the CPPCC.

In August 1935, the Yue Opera Troupe led by Yao Shuijuan performed “Jade Hairpin” in Hangzhou Great World, starring Li Xiuying. With its elegant and soft sleeves, the steps that move like clouds, the singing voice and the exquisite and vivid acting skills, Conquered the audience. Zhang Zaiyang, the chairman of Zhejiang Province at the time, was moved by her performance and praised her, chanting “Wonderful, three flowers are not as good as one Juan” (three flowers refer to Shi Yinhua, Zhao Ruihua, Wang Xinghua, one Juan refers to Yao Shuijuan), a famous Peking Opera performance Master Mei Lanfang even called Yao Shuijuan the “Queen of Yue Opera.”

Yao Shuijuan performance still

renamed all posters and advertisements “Yue Opera”. In this way, the wonderful art garden of “Yue Opera” became the second largest in China Opera

When I asked how the laurel crown of “Queen of Yue Opera” was worn on her head, Yao Shuijuan smiled and said, “This is nothing but the audience affirmed and encouraged the actors’ performance level.” It turned out that in September 1938, the “Queen of Yue Opera” was jointly organized by Shanghai “Xi Bao”, “Xi Shi Shi Jia Shi” and “The Play World”, and the audience voted for the “Queen of Yue Opera”. Throne. In addition, the inscription “Shuijuan artist, Queen of Yue opera” by the master of Peking opera performance by Mei Lanfang was widely spread, which made Yao Shuijuan famous and famous in the south of the Yangtze River.

Words that enlighten my life

In a small chat, I talked to Yao Shuijuan: “What a beautiful professional actor, fame and fortune are both desirable and enviable.” Yao Shuijuan told me: “You only saw the brilliant side of the actor on the stage, there was applause. There are flowers, but I don’t know the effort and hardship behind the actors. I learned art from a teacher at the age of fourteen. I started with niche students, then Huadan, practiced in summer, winter practiced thirty-nine, day and night, all the hardships. One minute on stage, offstage. After ten years of work, everyone can’t be successful casually. God rewards hard work, perseverance, and only a little bit of hard work will make a point.” After listening to her words, I like to inspire and benefit a lot. Her teachings I still remember it in my heart and enlighten my life. After listening to Captain Kan’s introduction, I began to respect the kindlooking aunt, and saw it with admiration. I met Yao Shuijuan for the first time. She gave the impression that she was amiable and approachable.

Become friend with Yao Shui Juan

In the contact and understanding with Yao Shuijuan, she is usually reticent, but as soon as she talks about Yue Opera, Yao Shuijuan’s originally slightly sad and vicissitudes of life eyes immediately radiant and speak, from the past and present of Yue Opera to the origin of the title of “Queen of Yue Opera”, and The stories of interactions with some celebrities are just as precious. Yao Shuijuan told us that the predecessor of Yue Opera is called “Landing Sing Shu” and “Shaoxing Wenxi”. The voice is clear and graceful, beautiful and beautiful, the performance is deep and affectionate, sincere and moving, and it is quite local in the south of the Yangtze River. In early 1935, Ningbo newspapers first mentioned the name “Yue Opera”. Later, she made a final decision and

Yao Shuijuan performance still