Where is the source of Chinese opera civilization? Western opera, the modern language is not the authentic language of opera. Frankly speaking, Western musicians and audiences only look at Chinese folk opera in terms of form, and its content does not be dug out its rooted culture. Carmina Burana(Songs of Beuern) is a collection of Latin, medieval German, and even old French poetry written in the 13th century discovered in 1803 at the Bavarian monastery of Benediktbeuern, Germany. How it would be imagined what the Songs of Beuern would look like, if the composer Carl Orff had composed the music using the contemporary German translation of the lyrics? What is real lyrics of tranditioanl Chinese drama or opera? Audiences never see real Chinese traditional opera now, althrought ancient librettos have been still published from time to time. Nearly no composers use them for opera ,cantata or oratorio. Guān Hàn Qīng (关汉卿) was a famous Yuan qu (元曲 Yuan Song, Chinese ancient traditional opera) writer in Baoding (c. 1220-1300). The classical Chinese (文言文) was official writen form of literary language used in ancient China and preserved today for formal occasions or conspicuous display. Classical poetry is the essence of culture. It was also used in traditional Chinese opera. However, the music and the literay genre has not been succeeded by descendant. Nowadays, contemporay vernacular form(白话文) in so-called national opera(民族歌剧) almost completely substitutes poems/poetry of traditional genre. Furthermore, the poems of traditional genre(Yuan qu) is still popular and official literary style. However, it hardly is used in contemporary opera. Guan Hanqing Grand Theater(关汉卿大剧院) and Museum is named after Guan Hanqing. The his traditional opera got the cold shoulder. With the mission to restore traditioanl genre of opera, a proposal of the establishment of the Guān Hàn Qīng (关汉卿) Institute of Music was suggested. Newly found institute not only simplize to follow traditional style of opera but also should combine with contemporay cultural requirement, that enrich spiritual life and promote Baoding reputation.
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