Research Express@NCKU - News Release Research Express@NCKU Volume 9 Issue 2 - June 5, 2009 [ http://research.ncku.edu.tw/re/news/e/20090605/2.html ] Passion for Kunqu among NCKU Faculty, Students, and Southern Taiwan Residents Wang Chi Professor, Department of History National Cheng Kung University Due to NCKU Art Center's endeavor, NCKU was chosen as the only southern Taiwan venue for the Bringing Kunqu (崑曲) into Campus Series Events facilitated by Prof. Kenneth Hsien-yung Pai (白先勇). Prof. Pai, who studied for one year in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at NCKU, admitted in public occasions without hesitation that he personally favors NCKU. In fact, when the 2005-6 youth version of The Peony Pavilion (牡丹亭) was performed in Taiwan, NCKU was also the venue of their southern Taiwan performance and it was also organized by the NCKU Art Center. At that time, Prof. Pai was highly impressed by the Art Center's efforts leading to the supreme success of that performance, hence contributed to their choosing NCKU as the site for this even larger scale campus promotion event this time. NCKU President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai (right) NCKU SEVP Da Hsuan Feng (middle) and The and Prof. Kenneth Hsien-yung Pai (left) Secretary General Woei-Shyan Lee (left) sent a NCKU landmark Banyan Garden souvenir to Prof. Pai (right) Except for the performance of Romance of the West Chamber (西廂記), Lankeshan (爛柯山) and The Jade Hairpin (玉簪記) on the 28 th, 29th and 30th of May, 2009, respectively, there were another four live demonstration sessions of The Beauty of Kunqu by Mainland's elite professional Kunqu and guqin (古琴) maestros, which were: Liang Guying (梁谷音) on The Beauty of Kunqu and Romance of the West Chamber on May 11th, Cai Zhengren (蔡正仁) and Zhang Jingxian (張靜嫻) on The Palace of Eternal Youth (長生殿) on May 15th, Prof. Li Xiangting (李祥霆) of Central Conservatory of Music illustrated the guqin "Jiu Xiao Huan Pei (九霄環佩)", meaning the ninth heaven jade ornament literally, on May 18 th. Played by Prof. Li, this 1,253-year old Tang Dynasty guqin impressed and intrigued the hundreds audience. They all felt happy that guqin, after Kunqu, is also proclaimed as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The last seminar on the beauty of Kunqu was on May 20th, where famous Kunqu performers Zhang Jiqing (張繼青) and Yao Jikun (姚繼焜), a married couple, talked about the famous Kun opera play Lankeshan, with, of course, exquisite singing and acting. 1 of 4 Research Express@NCKU - News Release Author of this article, Prof. Wang Chi of Elite professional guqin player Prof. Li Xiangting Department of History, NCKU (standing) played the legendary Tang Dynasty guqin Jiu Xiao Huan Pei The youth version Kunqu plays, facilitated by Prof. Pai, all cast younger new performers taught by prominent Kunqu maestros. The masters have shared all their expertise to these students. During their lectures, they expressed their wishes for the audience to encourage their students. The genuine love and bond between the masters and students moved the full house audience to applaud from time to time. We hence firmly believe that the once faded Kunqu, summoned by the cross strait culture maestro Pai and having been adjusted accordingly to contemporary tastes and preferences, not only has it won sponsorship and support from the concerned people among the Chinese worldwide, the Mainland Kunqu theaters have also been infused with new vitality. When all forces are accumulated to a common goal, Kunqu is recognized by people. We can tell from the response of high school and university students who attended the lectures and performances, there is no doubt that Kunqu has won the young audience's love. This can also be concluded from the questionnaires conducted by the NCKU Art Center to the audience. Most of the audience responded that it was their first time to appreciate a Kun opera, and the performance tremendously exceeded their expectation. Mr. Cai Shaohua (蔡少華), Head of the Suzhou Kun Opera Company (蘇州崑劇院), also the leader of the Suzhou Kun Opera's Taiwan Tour, has praised for several times during the NCKU performance period that the audience are of high caliber. The scene of an orderly lining up audience with tickets in their hands waiting to enter the theater two hours before the show especially impressed him. It rained heavily before the 3rd day's performance of The Jade Hairpin; not being disturbed, the audience just put An orderly audience waited to enter the theater on their raincoats or opened their umbrellas, remaining waiting quietly. Mr. Cai was further moved when he saw the audience without tickets waiting patiently in line in front of the vacancy board, waiting for available seats and be led into the theater by the crew. The audience's orderliness impressed these Mainland visitors and made NCKU faculty proud. The NCKU Art Center is ten years old now. Having been organizing major art performance events for years, the staff members have accumulated abundant experiences. By their careful plan, the large audience can enter the theater smoothly, efficiently, orderly, and patiently wait for the show to begin. The audience applauded heartedly after each act. At the end of the performance, they stood up for several minutes, yelled and applauded passionately to show their sincere respect and love for the performers. Especially when Prof. Pai stepped on the stage and led the performers to thank the audience, the interaction among performers 2 of 4 Research Express@NCKU - News Release and audience reached climax. After the end of the show, a lot of audience asked Prof. Pai to sign on his books. They also asked when the next performance would be. Seeing the audience's passion for the Kunqu, the NCKU Art Center staff negotiated with Director Cai of Suzhou Kun Opera Company that once they are invited to Taiwan, they must notify the Art Center, and the Center will try every possible means or to collaborate with the Tainan City Government to bring the "origin of all theaters" Kun opera, which includes music, dance, elegant colored stage scenes, and poetic lines to more Tainan City residents. Prof. Pai led the performers to thank the audience Charmed by the Kun opera, the audience passionately applauded and stood up to show their love and respect for the performers Kunqu -- Origin of all theaters 3 of 4 Research Express@NCKU - News Release Photos: NCKU Art Center Translated by Helen Chang The Banyan Editorial Office 4 of 4.