Xu Xiaoxiang (11 January 1832 â€" ?), born Xu Xin, courtesy name Xinyi
and art name Diexian, was a Qing dynasty kunqu and Peking opera artist
based in Beijing. He specialized in portraying xiaosheng roles, or
younger gentlemen. His best known roles included Zhou Yu in Meeting of
Heroes (群英會), Xu Xian in Legend of the White Snake, and Liu
Mengmei in The Peony Pavilion.He was a member of the famed Three
Celebrations Troupe led by Cheng Changgeng.Xu Xiaoxiang's biographical
information mainly came from his student Cao Xinquan (曹心泉).
According to Cao, Xu Xiaoxiang was born as Xu Xin in Wu County,
Suzhou, Jiangsu, though his ancestral home was Changzhou, Jiangsu.
When he was still a child, he went to the Qing dynasty capital Beijing
to learn Peking opera, receiving his first trainings in Yinxiu Hall
(å Ÿç§€å ‚). He imitated the styles of Hubei native Long Deyun
(é¾ å¾·é›²) and Beijing native Cao Meixian (曹眉仙), both xiaosheng
actors, forging his own style from their strengths.Once he graduated
from the training school, Xu Xiaoxiang joined Cheng Changgeng's Three
Celebrations Troupe. He was able to play both civil and martial
xiaosheng roles, and sing both kunqu and Peking opera arie. He had a
handsome face and a resonant voice, beautiful singing in both real
voice and falsetto, and graceful movements which demonstrated his
charisma. He was a versatile actor who could handle with ease the hand
fans used by poor scholars and pheasant plumes worn by generals on
their helmets. Theatre historian Qi Rushan considered him the most
complete actor of his time because he could portray any xiaosheng role
creatively.
and art name Diexian, was a Qing dynasty kunqu and Peking opera artist
based in Beijing. He specialized in portraying xiaosheng roles, or
younger gentlemen. His best known roles included Zhou Yu in Meeting of
Heroes (群英會), Xu Xian in Legend of the White Snake, and Liu
Mengmei in The Peony Pavilion.He was a member of the famed Three
Celebrations Troupe led by Cheng Changgeng.Xu Xiaoxiang's biographical
information mainly came from his student Cao Xinquan (曹心泉).
According to Cao, Xu Xiaoxiang was born as Xu Xin in Wu County,
Suzhou, Jiangsu, though his ancestral home was Changzhou, Jiangsu.
When he was still a child, he went to the Qing dynasty capital Beijing
to learn Peking opera, receiving his first trainings in Yinxiu Hall
(å Ÿç§€å ‚). He imitated the styles of Hubei native Long Deyun
(é¾ å¾·é›²) and Beijing native Cao Meixian (曹眉仙), both xiaosheng
actors, forging his own style from their strengths.Once he graduated
from the training school, Xu Xiaoxiang joined Cheng Changgeng's Three
Celebrations Troupe. He was able to play both civil and martial
xiaosheng roles, and sing both kunqu and Peking opera arie. He had a
handsome face and a resonant voice, beautiful singing in both real
voice and falsetto, and graceful movements which demonstrated his
charisma. He was a versatile actor who could handle with ease the hand
fans used by poor scholars and pheasant plumes worn by generals on
their helmets. Theatre historian Qi Rushan considered him the most
complete actor of his time because he could portray any xiaosheng role
creatively.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.