Haicheng Laba Opera, as a traditional Chinese opera, is rooted in Haicheng City, Liaoning Province. Due to its unique artistic charm and strong local characteristics, it is deeply loved by audiences. The core of trumpet opera lies in its singing form and dramatic plot, integrating elements of Northeastern local opera to form a unique performance style. This article will comprehensively explore the origin, development, performance characteristics, repertoire content, and current status of protection and innovation of Haicheng trumpet opera, unveiling the mysterious veil of this artistic treasure for you.
1、 The origin of Haicheng trumpet opera
The history of Haicheng trumpet opera can be traced back to the late 19th century. Initially, it originated from folk operas in the region. With the changes in society, this performing art gradually evolved into a representative theatrical genre in Haicheng area. Laba opera has been influenced by various cultures, including traditional Beijing opera, local opera, and folk tunes, making it highly diverse in terms of rhythm and performance forms.
Haicheng is located in the Northeast Plain and has been a cultural hub since ancient times. The flexibility and exchange of different ethnic groups have added rich colors to the development of trumpet opera. Its name comes from the traditional musical instrument “trumpet”, which is not only a common instrument in performances, but also describes the vivid and unrestrained characteristics of this opera.
2、 The Development History of Haicheng Horn Opera
As time passed, Haicheng trumpet opera gradually attracted more and more audiences. At the beginning of the 20th century, trumpet opera began to spread widely in rural areas around Haicheng, and many grassroots actors spontaneously organized performances, gradually forming a unique performance mode. The initial plays mostly focused on rural life, reflecting the hardworking farmers and the ups and downs of their daily lives, reflecting a strong local culture.
In the mid-20th century, with the changes in society, trumpet opera also underwent a series of transformations, especially after the 1950s, when the country’s emphasis on traditional Chinese opera art promoted the prosperity of this genre. Various literary and artistic groups have been established, and trumpet plays have taken to a broader stage, attracting audiences of different ages.
3、 Performance characteristics and artistic style
The performance characteristics of Haicheng trumpet opera are its outstanding musicality and stage performance. Traditional trumpet opera contains rich musical elements. In terms of instrument use, in addition to the common trumpet, there are also erhu, percussion instruments, etc., forming a unique style of band accompaniment. Singing often uses local dialects to facilitate audience understanding and resonance.
In terms of performance form, trumpet opera adopts a humorous style that is highly entertaining and entertaining. Actors showcase vivid characters and leave a deep impression through exaggerated movements, witty dialogues, and high five rhythms. In addition, many plays contain elements of improvisation, allowing the audience to enjoy the plot while also feeling the creativity and vitality of the actors.
4、 Recommended wonderful plays
There are several classic plays worth mentioning in Haicheng trumpet opera. For example, plays such as “Zhang Sanfeng” have won the love of audiences with their profound connotations and vivid characters. These plays usually revolve around themes such as justice, love, and family, conveying traditional moral concepts and reflecting the brilliance of human nature.
In addition, ‘Tiger Strike Up the Mountain’ is based on Wu Song’s tiger strike as the main storyline, with a compact plot and a fast-paced rhythm, which is well received by audiences of all ages. The play incorporates various martial arts elements into its performance, and the music accompaniment is full of dynamic energy, often eliciting applause and cheers from the audience.
Haicheng trumpet opera is not only an artistic expression, but also a reflection of Haicheng’s humanistic spirit. By inheriting and developing this art, not only does it maintain cultural diversity, but it also injects new vitality into future cultural creation and transmission. The current era calls for innovation and change, and we hope that more people can pay attention to this art, so that Haicheng trumpet opera can continue to move forward in the wave of the new era.
