Comedy MP3 -- Selected Comedies by Master Hou Baolin

Author: Beijing Hongda Ethernet Culture Development Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Beijing Tengtu Electronic Publishing House
Publication Date:
Features: This product includes the most representative programs created (or organized and refined) and performed by the master Hou Baolin in the 1950s and a slightly later period, to delight Xiangsheng enthusiasts. Listen to the voice of the artistic master, feel the depth of life's history! More than half a century of artistic practice, humor, wit, social realities, and life are all included! Hou Baolin (1917–1993), a native of Beijing, grew up in poverty. At the age of 12, he began to learn Peking Opera, later switching to Xiangsheng and studying under Chang Baochen and Zhu Kuiquan as masters. He once performed in areas around Drum Tower and Tianqiao in Beijing. In 1940, he went to Tianjin to perform and gained fame. From 1940 onwards, he worked with Guo Qiru as a duet, performing paired Xiangsheng together. Their interaction in praise and ridicule was perfectly synchronized, complementing each other, and they collaborated for over 20 years. In the history of Xiangsheng art, Hou Baolin is one of the most renowned outstanding performing artists.
Hou Baolin's contributions to Xiangsheng art are multifaceted. First, he led the effort to purify the language of Xiangsheng performance, elevating its aesthetic appeal by discarding the vulgar and lowbrow non-artistic elements of the past. He adapted many traditional programs, transforming them into something magical and revitalizing their appearance. Second, while creating and performing, he emphasized the theoretical research of Xiangsheng, made friends with scholars and intellectuals, and co-authored works such as "The Origin of Xiangsheng" and "Essays on Xiangsheng Art," guiding the art toward greater artistic self-awareness. Third, he created, organized, and performed over 30 classic Xiangsheng programs that can be considered masterpieces. Representative examples include: "Marriage and Superstition," "Miraculous Hands Become Harmful," "Kuan Gong Battles Qin Qiong," "Night Journey," "Talks on Drama," "Drama and Dialects," "Changing Professions," "Drunk on Wine," and "Theatre Enthusiasts."