1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910782710903321

Autore

Siu Wang-Ngai <1938->

Titolo

Chinese opera [[electronic resource] ] : images and stories / / Siu Wang-Ngai with Peter Lovrick

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Seattle, : University of Washington Press

Vancouver, BC, : UBC Press, c1997

ISBN

1-283-13216-8

9786613132161

0-7748-5637-8

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (254 p.)

Altri autori (Persone)

LovrickPeter <1953->

Disciplina

782.1/0951

Soggetti

Operas, Chinese - History and criticism

Chinese drama - History and criticism

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Simultaneously published: Seattle : University of Washington Press, 1977.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 229-230) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Front Matter -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Dynasties of China -- Note on Romanization -- The Dramatic Tradition -- Regional Opera Styles -- Conventions -- Heavenly Beings -- Emperors and Their Ladies -- Generals and Warriors -- Scholars and Officials -- Wealthy Families -- Common Folk: Those Who Are Ruled -- The Religious -- Outlaws -- Ghosts -- A Final Word -- Appendix A: English Guide to Photographs -- Appendix B: Chinese Guide to Photographs -- Select Bibliography -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

Chinese Opera looks at Chinese society through an exciting series of photographs of operatic performances from many regions of the country. The book introduces the reader to this unique theatrical form and tells the traditional stories that are its narrative foundation. Siu Wang-Ngai's extraordinary images, taken in natural light during performances, lovingly reveal the visual excitement of Chinese opera and point to the differences in costuming and presentation that distinguish each regional style and character type. Through Peter Lovrick's engaging text, Chinese Opera provides a brief anecdotal history of the development of Chinese opera and introduces a language



of theatrical convention entirely new to the Westerner. It also identifies the hallmarks of the dozen or so regional opera styles found in this collection. As well, the book arranges the stories in a rough chain of being, from heaven, through the whole social structure on earth from emperor to outlaw, to ghosts in the nether world, offering a revealing view of Chinese social tradition and experience. Chinese opera has a rich repertoire drawn from history, legends, folk tales, and classic novels. Chinese Opera opens a door onto the wealth of Chinese traditional drama in a way that will interest drama aficionados, admirers of theatrical photography, students of Chinese drama, those interested in the culture of China, and everyone who enjoys a lively story. Siu Wang-Ngai's photographic record of opera performances makes these stories come alive.