Mei Lan (22 October 1894 â€" 8 August 1961), better known by his stage
name Mei Lanfang, was a notable Peking opera artist in modern Chinese
theater. Mei was known as "Queen of Peking Opera". Mei was exclusively
known for his female lead roles (dan) and particularly his
"verdant-robed girls" (qingyi), young or middle-aged women of grace
and refinement. He was considered one of the "Four Great Dan", along
with Shang Xiaoyun, Cheng Yanqiu, and Xun Huisheng.Mei Lanfang was
born in Beijing in 1894 into a family of Peking opera and Kunqu
performers (performers of a traditional Chinese theatre composed of
drama, ballet, opera, poetry, and music) of Taizhou, Jiangsu
ancestry.At age 8, Mei Lanfang started training in Chinese opera
skills such as acting, singing and acrobatics. Mei Lanfang made his
stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 11 years old.
In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while
always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of
female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international
acclaim, and his smooth, perfectly timed, poised style has come to be
known in opera circles as the "Mei School." He also played an
important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu, noted
particularly for his interpretations of Du Liniang (æ œä¸½å¨˜; in The
Peony Pavilion) and Bái SùzhÄ"n (ç™½ç´ è´ž; in Legend of the White
Snake). Mei's famous portrayal of Beauty Yu was so historically moving
that Wenting Song say he is one of the greatest vocal artists in
modern China.Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to
foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the
United States, and other regions. He toured the world, forming
friendships with the western contemporaries of his day, including
Charlie Chaplin. In 1930 he toured North America, visiting Hollywood,
where he was welcomed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. In 1935,
Mei toured Europe, playing to appreciative audiences in Berlin and
Moscow. Seeing Mei perform especially impressed the German playwright
Bertold Brecht and influenced his concept of the alienation effect. He
served as one of the mentors and guardians of the actress Li Yuru as
she began her career.
name Mei Lanfang, was a notable Peking opera artist in modern Chinese
theater. Mei was known as "Queen of Peking Opera". Mei was exclusively
known for his female lead roles (dan) and particularly his
"verdant-robed girls" (qingyi), young or middle-aged women of grace
and refinement. He was considered one of the "Four Great Dan", along
with Shang Xiaoyun, Cheng Yanqiu, and Xun Huisheng.Mei Lanfang was
born in Beijing in 1894 into a family of Peking opera and Kunqu
performers (performers of a traditional Chinese theatre composed of
drama, ballet, opera, poetry, and music) of Taizhou, Jiangsu
ancestry.At age 8, Mei Lanfang started training in Chinese opera
skills such as acting, singing and acrobatics. Mei Lanfang made his
stage debut at the Guanghe Theatre in 1904 when he was 11 years old.
In his 50-year stage career, he maintained strong continuity while
always working on new techniques. His most famous roles were those of
female characters; skillful portrayal of women won him international
acclaim, and his smooth, perfectly timed, poised style has come to be
known in opera circles as the "Mei School." He also played an
important part in continuing the performance tradition of Kunqu, noted
particularly for his interpretations of Du Liniang (æ œä¸½å¨˜; in The
Peony Pavilion) and Bái SùzhÄ"n (ç™½ç´ è´ž; in Legend of the White
Snake). Mei's famous portrayal of Beauty Yu was so historically moving
that Wenting Song say he is one of the greatest vocal artists in
modern China.Mei was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera to
foreign countries, participating in cultural exchanges with Japan, the
United States, and other regions. He toured the world, forming
friendships with the western contemporaries of his day, including
Charlie Chaplin. In 1930 he toured North America, visiting Hollywood,
where he was welcomed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. In 1935,
Mei toured Europe, playing to appreciative audiences in Berlin and
Moscow. Seeing Mei perform especially impressed the German playwright
Bertold Brecht and influenced his concept of the alienation effect. He
served as one of the mentors and guardians of the actress Li Yuru as
she began her career.
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