Cantonese Opera is also known as Guangfu Opera. It is also called Guangdong Opera. Premier Zhou Enlai praised it as “Red Bean in South China”. Foshan Cantonese Opera Theatre is deeply rooted in history.
Foshan is the birthplace of Cantonese Opera. Its origins trace back 400 years to the Ming Dynasty. It is popular in Cantonese-speaking regions. These regions include Hong Kong and Macau. It also thrives in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. American regions with Guangdong overseas Chinese also enjoy it. Some countries even have generations of Cantonese Opera artists. There are also opera organizations and related associations.
The Foshan Cantonese Opera Theatre began as the Foshan Cantonese Opera Training Institute. It was built in 1957. In 2011, it merged with the Foshan Youth Cantonese Opera Troupe and Foshan Drama Troupe. The theatre has developed many professional Cantonese opera groups.
Cantonese Opera blends various theatrical styles. These styles include Kun Opera, Yi Opera and Han Opera. It also incorporates Hui Opera, Qin Opera, and Xiang Opera. Cantonese Opera combines Chinese cultures and Linnan cultural tastes. Tian Han described its performances as passionate and sentimental.
The Foshan Cantonese Opera Theatre creates popular modern operas. One troupe performed “Four Fat Chickens” in Guangzhou. Premier Zhou praised it.
The Foshan Cantonese Opera Theatre has created new operas. They include “King Shunzhi and Princess Dong Efei” and “Foshan Huang Feihong”. “Iron Blood of Opera Performer” is another. Also popular are “Beauty’s Sadness” and “Xiaozhou Hou”. These operas have won prizes in artistic contests.
The Cantonese Opera’s popularity led to good development in Foshan. There are over 400 amateur Cantonese opera bodies. They have over 5000 members. They give over 6000 performances each year.
The Foshan Cantonese Opera Theatre plays an important role. This role includes foreign cultural exchange. In 1981, the Foshan Youth Cantonese Opera Troupe visited Macao. It was their debut of commercial performance. They have performed over 30 times in the USA and Canada. They have also performed in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. They once achieved 28 continuous performances with full audiences. The troupe is very popular among overseas audiences.
The “Charming Foshan · 2004 Qionghua Cantonese Opera Art Festival” was an assembly. It was an unprecedented assembly of Cantonese opera. It occurred in Foshan and Guangdong Province.
The Cantonese Opera Qionghua Prize was established. It aims to promote the growth of Cantonese Opera artists.
Cantonese Opera is now popular in many places. These include Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. It also has spread to Asia, America, Australia, Europe and Africa. It has become a component of world culture. Now you are standing where Cantonese Opera thrives.