The Performance Characteristics of Kunqu Opera: Historical and Contemporary Aspects
The article is devoted to Kunqu opera, a genre of national theatre which is widely known in China and abroad. The long history, popularity, and symbolic meaning of Kunqu for Chinese culture have led to its rather detailed presentation in the research literature. However, Kunqu performance is still in need of special research attention. This article analyses the historical performance specifi city of Kunqu. The focus of the analysis is on the melodic, tempo-rhythmic, vocal and technical aspects, as well as the realities of modern Kunqu performance in the Chinese national theatre.