The genre inheritance of opera art should adhere to integrity and innovation
The emergence of the opera genre is based on the prosperity of opera types, the large number of practitioners, and the huge audience group. It is the product of the development of opera art to a certain historical stage and plays a key role in the prosperity of opera. With the emergence of genres, the performance form of opera art has also undergone certain changes, and the inheritance of genres has become the main method for the development of various dramas. At present, how opera genres maintain integrity and innovate is directly related to the development of Chinese opera art.
Various drama genres are born in artistic practice
The origin of the opera genre is closely related to prosperous performance practice. Especially during the “Controversy between Flowers and Elegance”, local operas emerged, Peking opera took shape, and various types of operas, genres, and arts followed.
Why did opera genres emerge one after another at this time? First, the assignment of roles and professions and further classification and refinement contributed to the emergence of genres. For example, Shengxing in Peking Opera is the earliest developed industry. There are various schools and factions that emerged after that, each with its own unique characteristics and style.
Secondly, the prescriptive and stylized stage performance system of opera performing arts gradually matured and finalized at this stage. The vocal tune is one of the most distinctive and representative features of the opera genre. The opera genre has experienced the development process from tune to style. This opera genre, formed by individual actors establishing sects, emerged.
The emergence of opera genres does not happen overnight but is formed in the process of rich artistic practice. The formation and stability of each genre’s artistic style are closely related to the “famous actor selection system” behind it.
“Avoid shortcomings” and “leverage strengths” in their continuous development
For the art of opera, the formation and even the inheritance and development of genres are actually a matter of leveraging strengths and avoiding weaknesses within the art of opera. Most of the founders of the school combine their own strengths on the basis of inheriting the traditional paradigm, thereby creating a new pattern, triggering a wave of imitation, and finally becoming their own school.
Not only inheriting “skills” but also inheriting “morality”
Is the inheritance of a genre just that of leaving it intact, taking it from the mold, and inheriting it exactly as it is? The correct path and method of inheriting a genre is not only to learn the art of a genre but also to produce new styles and new genres on this basis and to develop the genre itself.
For current opera actors, they must first return to polishing their own skills and solidify their artistic foundation. It is necessary to improve the ability to use procedural thinking to integrate the “four skills and five methods” to present specific plot situations and create specific characters in the play. Finally, for some top actors, they should consciously unite art, economics, planning, management, etc. to form a long-term, stable, like-minded and strong team, so that they can produce a distinctive and harmonious artistic style in creation.
In conclusion, the genre inheritance of opera art should adhere to integrity and innovation, combining the strengths of traditional practices with new developments to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of Chinese opera art.