During the May Day holiday, the Sichuan opera Li Yaxian made its successful debut in Hong Kong. Shen Tiemei, Vice Chairman of the China Theatre Association and President of Chongqing Sichuan Opera Theater invited Wang Chao, Vice President of Sichuan Opera Theater of Chengdu, to join her in Hong Kong for the event.
This collaborative performance between masters from Sichuan and Chongqing held special significance in Hong Kong. It marked the revival of Sichuan opera's global outreach since the recovery of China's cultural and tourism market and showcased the initiative and responsibility of Sichuan opera performers in building the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. For the first time, masters from both Sichuan and Chongqing joined forces to promote cultural output and sought new approaches to enhance the popularity of Sichuan opera.
The debut of Li Yaxian in Hong Kong. (Photo/Zhao Xin)
Debut in Hong Kong
"Theater enthusiasts in Hong Kong are quite familiar with Sichuan opera," noted Zhong Zhenzhen, Director of Opera Performing Arts at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. In 2014, the "Plum Blossom Awards" art troupe of the China Theatre Association visited Hong Kong, with Shen Tiemei performing a scene from Li Yaxian. "The audience was captivated and thoroughly enjoyed the performance." In 2015, Shen Tiemei lectured on Sichuan opera in Hong Kong, and in 2017, Chongqing Sichuan Opera Theater participated in the Chinese Opera Festival in Hong Kong. "There is undoubtedly a strong connection between Hong Kong and Sichuan opera."
Li Yaxian has been performed overseas, with notable appearances at the Budapest Spring Festival in Hungary in 2016 and the Sibiu International Theater Festival in 2019. Shen Tiemei's efforts to promote Sichuan opera internationally began much earlier; in 2002, she brought "Gold" to South Korea, where it was staged eight times, creating a sensation and marking the beginning of Chongqing Sichuan Opera Theater's cultural outreach in the 21st century.
Over the past 20 years, Shen Tiemei and Sichuan opera artists from Chongqing have visited more than 30 countries and regions in Europe and America, winning the admiration of an ever-growing number of foreign audiences.
Audiences in Hong Kong received Li Yaxian with enthusiasm. (Photo/Zhao Xin)
To display the charm of Sichuan opera as it is
"We understand that Sichuan opera's original form possesses its unique beauty. It can captivate the audience despite any language barriers," said Shen Tiemei. When performing in Hungary, they provided a plot summary rather than a word-for-word translation to help the audience better appreciate the music, performance, costumes, and dialects. "The performance speaks for itself because Sichuan opera is confident in its essence."
Presenting Sichuan opera in its pure form has been a primary artistic pursuit for Shen Tiemei and other performers in Chongqing for many years. "Chinese opera art has distinctive national characteristics, setting it apart from Western plays regarding its ideological system, performance techniques, and aesthetic appreciation. The abstract, stylized form of Chinese operas consistently offers fresh perspectives for international audiences. Sichuan opera, which combines five performance styles, boasts more than 300 years of history. We should present authentic Sichuan opera to overseas audiences and help them understand what a genuine Sichuan opera performance entails."
Innovation is the lifeblood of art, and Shen Tiemei emphasizes preserving and evolving artistic traditions. Li Yaxian is an innovative adaptation of the classic Sichuan opera, transforming the happy ending into a tragedy and intensifying its artistic impact. Incorporating Tuge (singing without musical accompaniment), chord, and other novel expressive techniques with traditional singing tunes infuses a modern, melodious quality into the original play.
Chengdu-Chongqing joint promotion for culture
The Hong Kong show was made possible by the Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement on the Pilot Literature and Art Projects for the Construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.
"Entering the industry is a new opportunity, but transcending the industry requires innovation and development," said Shen Tiemei, who has been pondering this question in recent years. With her and her team's efforts, the Chongqing Sichuan Opera Theater has preserved the traditional form of Sichuan opera while incorporating popular elements from international art. The theater has also learned to popularize the opera in collaboration with other significant art forms, making Chongqing's Sichuan opera more international.
As the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle takes shape, Sichuan opera presents new opportunities – unique to both regions. "Sichuan opera in the new era needs more performers, plays, and audiences," said Shen Tiemei. She added that Sichuan opera represents China's exceptional traditional culture and is the local art form created and cherished by the people of Sichuan and Chongqing. By building the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the Bashu Culture and Tourism Corridor, performers from both regions will be emotionally connected and push Sichuan opera to new heights.