Biography of Ma Lianliang

Author: Zhang Yonghe
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-12-01
Features: The culture of the Chinese nation has a long and profound history, and is vast and profound. As a representative of national opera art, Peking Opera is an important part of the entire national art of China. Peking Opera is not only a treasure of Chinese national culture but also a fine piece in the treasure house of human culture. Peking Opera is one of the most accomplished and representative genres in the family of Chinese opera, and it once captivated the entire country, winning over countless audiences. However, its artistic completeness and maturity have also brought about greater rigidity, and it faces more severe challenges from the times. Its rich and profound artistic connotations must be respected and inherited, but in the face of current realities, it is even more important to prioritize innovation and development. Only through innovation and development can it truly break free from its predicament and embark on a broad path that integrates with the times. Ma Lianliang, the founder of the Ma school of Peking Opera, ranked among the three great Sheng roles and the first of the "Four Great Sheng Roles" of the early era, and later among the "Four Great Sheng Roles" of the later era. From the age of eight, he received guidance from renowned masters. Over his fifty-eight-year artistic career, he collaborated with over one hundred first-class actors from various performance genres, including Mei Lanfang, Shang Xiaoyun, Cheng Yanqian, Xun Huisheng, Yang Xiaolou, Yu Shuyan, Zhou Xinfang, and Jin Shaoshan, among other artistic masters. He also nurtured and trained a group of artistic talents, including Zhang Junqiu, Yuan Shihai, Wang Jinlu, Ma Changli, and Zhang Xuejin. This book narrates the life and artistic journey of the subject in a language that captures the essence of Peking Opera. Many performances were attended by the author personally, making the narration authentic and vivid, and highly readable.