Contemporary Presentation of the Comprehensive Beauty of Opera

Author: Ju Qihong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The critical essays included in this collection are selected from over 100 opera-related articles and reviews published by the author in various newspapers and magazines over the past 20 years. A small number of these have also been included in other personal anthologies published by the author. The author's papers and reviews on musical theater will be compiled into a separate volume and will not be included in this book. Some articles that cover both opera and musical theater will be categorized based on their focus, with some included in this collection and others in the musical theater volume. In a sense, this collection reflects the author's dedication and deep love for the art and profession of opera. Therefore, it can be summarized as "An Opera Passion from the Perspective of Theoretical Vision." My passion for opera began at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Affiliated High School. The high school is very close to the Shanghai Grand Theatre, where I often visited the small theater to watch rehearsals of Chinese and foreign operas such as White-Haired Girl, Red Lake Detachment, The Daughter of the Director, Madama Butterfly, and The Peddler and the Lady. I was deeply moved by their stories, characters, and music, becoming utterly captivated by the comprehensive charm of opera. After entering the undergraduate program, I took advantage of the library resources at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to read books, listen to recordings, and study scores, gradually deepening my understanding of Chinese and foreign operas. My passion for opera grew stronger, and I often dreamed of becoming an opera professional one day!