Musings and Writings about Kunqu
The Kunqu Theater
Kunqu is a form of Chinese musical drama. But it is more than just drama: it is a combination of play, opera, ballet, poetry recital, and musical recital. In the performance of Kunqu three media work simultaneously and in harmony: words, music and dance.
排演乞丐戲＜ 教歌 ＞的隨談 Practice “Teaching the Begging Trade”
二〇一二年十一月二十四日將於紐約法拉盛圖書館上演＜ 教歌＞一劇。此劇乃是全本繡襦記大戲雅中見俗的一折，也是崑劇高雅劇目中陽春白雪以外的下里巴人，劇中雖則描寫社會低層的乞丐叫化，但人物言表詞句也有文理典故，可謂俗中見雅。
追夢的人 The Dream Pursuer: Fu-yen Chen
Mr. Fu-yen Chen, former president of the Kunqu Society, led a group of friends to pursue a dream to transplant the elegant and classical kunqu theatre to the soil of the U.S., letting this orchid continue to emit its fragrance among the numerous flowers in the garden of American arts. The founding of the Kunqu Society was the realization of this dream.
悼念陳富烟先生 In Memory of Mr. Fu-yen Chen
I am a performer from the Shanghai Kunqu Troupe. In the course of my kunqu journey I came to New York and met the former president Mr. Fu-yen Chen, as well as other colleagues who are present here and have dedicated their lives and time to kunqu. Time flies and it has been more than nineteen years since I first met President Chen. His laugh, speech, and mannerisms are still vivid and greatly impress me.