Career of Yue Opera Masters

Author: Zhang Zheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The author spent three years collecting and compiling a wealth of materials and exquisite stage photos from over 100 renowned Yue Opera artists, resulting in this book, The Artistic Careers of Yue Opera Masters. This book encompasses the artistic careers of famous actors across different generations, introducing readers to the achievements, careers, and anecdotes of numerous masters. It is a relatively comprehensive and detailed new text on Yue Opera. The book is characterized by its ideological depth, artistic quality, authenticity, and engaging nature. It is well-researched, easy to understand, rich in visuals, and enjoyable for both scholars and general audiences. It serves as a precious gift from the author to the centennial of Yue Opera and represents a valuable cultural treasure.
Xinbao News (Reporter Tang Xuwei) Two elderly individuals with purely "folk" backgrounds, in their 60s and 70s, driven by their deep love for Yue Opera, spent three years finally completing a book they call the "group photo" of the Yue Opera world, titled The Artistic Careers of Yue Opera Masters. The book collects information and nearly 600 photos of 138 predecessors, renowned actors, and emerging talents in the Yue Opera community, as well as introductions to behind-the-scenes figures such as scriptwriters and directors.
The highlight of The Artistic Careers of Yue Opera Masters is its comprehensiveness. It includes the artistic careers of founders and legendary masters from various schools, ranging from Shi Yinhua, Zhao Ruihua, Wang Xinghua, and Yao Shuijuan, to Yuan Xuefen, Yin Guifang, Fan Ruijuan, Fu Quanxiang, Xu Yulan, and Qi Yaxian, and even later masters like Lu Jinhua, Wang Wenjuan, Lü Ruiying, Jin Cai Feng, and Bi Chunfang. It covers the artistic careers of new talents in the new era of Yue Opera. One of the authors, Zhang Zheng, was once a scriptwriter for the Shanghai Yue Opera Theater and had close interactions with many Yue Opera masters, making his writing particularly vivid and intimate. The other author, Zhang Guibin, is a seasoned Yue Opera enthusiast deeply familiar with the anecdotes within the industry.
After three years of, the book was finally completed. However, the publisher of Shanghai University Press, who had initially promised to publish the book, had left their position, making publication a challenge. Through negotiations with the publisher, the two elderly authors took on the publishing costs of 58,000 yuan, ensuring the book's release. What brought them great comfort was that the new book was well-received by masters and numerous Yue Opera enthusiasts.