Sizhou opera

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Sizhou Opera

Applicant: Sihong County, Jiangsu Province

Item No.: 206

Project No.: Ⅳ - 62

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: Traditional Drama

Region: Jiangsu Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Sihong County, Jiangsu Province

Protection unit: Sizhou opera troupe of Sihong County

Introduction to Sizhou Opera:

Applicant: Sihong County, Jiangsu Province

Sizhou opera, originally called La Hun tune, originated in Shangtang Town, Sihong County, Jiangsu Province. After being recorded and sorted out by folk artists, it gradually formed a fixed singing tune of La Hun tune, which has a history of more than 200 years. In the late Qing Dynasty, Sizhou opera was mainly distributed in 20 townships in Sihong, such as Shangtang, Weiying, Fengshan, Guiren, Zhuhu and meihua. Before 1949, there were 38 local family troupes alone. It was named "Sizhou opera" in 1952. With the approval of the people's Government of Sihong County, Sizhou opera troupe of Sihong County was formally established in 1953.

Sizhou opera has strong local characteristics, and its singing is graceful, gorgeous and beautiful. In particular, at the end of each aria, women's tune uses a small voice to turn the tune up eight degrees, while men's tune adds lining words to delay the tune, which has the charm of moving the soul. Its characteristics are as follows: it seems to sing but not to sing, it seems to speak but not to speak; its colloquial, singing and performance style are closely related to the local life language and customs, and its accompaniment is mainly composed of local pipa, erhu and bamboo flute instruments.

The simple and enthusiastic style of Sizhou opera is deeply loved by the local people. At present, due to the gradual withdrawal of old artists from the stage, young actors can not keep up, and there is no successor. Traditional skills are facing loss and need to be protected.