On the evening of October 24^th, a commemorative performance to celebrate the centenary of Cantonese opera master Chen Xiaofeng took place at the Guangdong Yueju Opera Theater. Chen Xiaofeng's disciples, Chen Lingyu, Lin Jiabao, Xiaoyi, Liang Hengfeng, and Deng Meiling, joined renowned Cantonese opera artists from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, including Ou Kaiming, Long Guantian, Cao Xiuqin, Zeng Hui, Mai Yuqing, and Li Qiuyuan, to perform six classic excerpts from Chen's renowned plays.

Seventy-eight years attainments in Cantonese opera

Cantonese opera master Chen Xiaofeng (1924-2021) hailing from Wangniudun, Dongguan, Guangdong, was the son of Chen Tianzong, the famous Cantonese opera playwright, film star, and director. In his youth, he studied architectural engineering in Guangzhou before devoting himself to the opera, specializing in both wensheng (singing and reciting roles) and wusheng (martial roles).

In the 1950s, Chen Xiaofeng returned to the Chinese mainland from overseas and worked with renowned theater troupes such as Baihua Yue Opera Troupe, Dongfanghong Yue Opera Troupe, Yongguangming Yue Opera Troupe, Guangdong Yueju Opera Theater, and Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Troupe.

He performed in numerous excellent plays with Yue opera masters like Ma Shizeng, Kuang Jianlian, Lang Junyu, Chu Xiuyun, and others, thus gaining great fame.

Chen Xiaofeng's presence on the Cantonese opera stage spanned seventy-eight years with his artistic achievements resonating both domestically and internationally, making him a pride of the Cantonese opera and even the Chinese theatrical community. Diligent in his artistic practice, the talented man adept at inheritance, bold in exploration, and skilled in creation.

His performances were so versatile that encompassed both singing and reciting roles and martial roles. He displayed elegance, agility, and realistic portrayal in all his roles. The "Fengqiang" vocal style he pioneered in Cantonese opera was characterized by its graceful and melodious tones, unrestrained fluency, and rich expressiveness, representing a precious treasure of Cantonese opera art. This style is a valuable treasure of Cantonese opera art.

Famous artists from the GBA put classic excerpts on stage

The commemorative performance showcased innovative presentation techniques and created a contemplative atmosphere and settings.

Chen Lingyu is the president of the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Research Association of Fengqiang Art. Accompanied by the prelude of her passionate performance, the entire audience was immersed in the enchanting ambience of Chen Xiaofeng's classic masterpiece "Smile in Spring". "With the wind and moon spanning thousands of miles, we revel in countless dreams; a faint fragrance wafts through the night, permeating our hearts."

The subsequent performances included "Jinjiang Poet Lovers" by Deng Meiling and Lin Jiabao,"Xiuruji"(The Story of the embroidered coat) by Zhu Nu and Xiaoyi, "Lotus Lantern" by Liang Henfeng and Huang Jiayu, "Legend of Tiangang Sword" by Zeng Hui and Li Qiuyuan, and "The Return of Zhu Bian" by Long Guantian and Cao Xiuqin. The finale, "Princess Wencheng entered Tibet" was passionately performed by Mai Yuqing and Ou Kaiming.

After the performance, Chen Xiaofeng's disciples and esteemed Cantonese opera artists recalled his kind guidance and shared stories of their collaborative performances.

Renowned Cantonese opera actress Cao Xiuqin and her husband expressed that Master Chen Xiaofeng has had a profound impact on their growth. She mentioned that every time Chen watched her and her husband Wu Guohua perform a new play, he would invite them to his home to analyze and explain their performances.

As disciples of Chen Xiaofeng, Lin Jiabao, Xiaoyi, and Liang Hengfeng reminisced about their master's constant advice to them, saying that art knows no bounds. A successful stage performance requires not only stunning vocals but also the ability to accurately convey the complex emotions and inner lives of the characters through nuanced and expressive acting.

纪念粤剧大师陈笑风诞辰一百周年，粤港澳名家再演经典

10月24日晚，“桃花依旧笑春风——纪念粤剧大师陈笑风诞辰一百周年”纪念专场演出在广东粤剧艺术中心举行。陈笑风老师的弟子陈玲玉、林家宝、晓毅、梁恒风、邓美玲，联同粤港澳粤剧名家欧凯明、龙贯天、曹秀琴、曾慧、麦玉清、李秋元等表演了陈笑风名剧中的六个经典折子戏。

大师驰骋粤剧舞台七十八年

粤剧大师陈笑风（1924-2021），原名陈啸风，原籍广东东莞望牛墩，其父为著名粤剧编剧、电影明星及编导陈天纵。他少年时代于广州攻读建筑工程，后投身梨园，专攻文武生。

20世纪五十年代，陈笑风从海外返回内地，先后在百花粤剧团、东方红粤剧团、永光明粤剧团、广东粤剧院、广州粤剧团等著名剧团工作；

他曾与马师曾、红线女、郎筠玉、楚岫云等合作，出演了《宝玉哭晴雯》《绣襦记》《朱牟回朝》《梁祝恨史》《六号门》《大漠英雄》《王大儒供状》等多部戏宝，名声大噪。

陈笑风驰骋粤剧舞台七十八年，艺术造诣蜚声海内外，是粤剧界乃至中国戏剧界的骄傲。他在艺术上勤于实践，善于继承，勇于探索，精于创造。

他的表演戏路宽广、文武兼备、俊逸潇洒、传神逼真；他创立的粤剧“风腔”抑扬委婉、奔放流畅、声情并茂，更是粤剧艺术的宝贵财富。

三地名家演绎经典折子戏

本次纪念专场演出呈现手法新颖，气氛、场景引人遐思。

“万里信风朗月，共醉几多梦；淡香吹送夜阑，注入心胸……”随着广州粤剧风腔艺术研究会会长陈玲玉倾情演绎的序曲《桃花依旧笑春风》，全场观众怡然进入陈笑风经典名剧的醉人氛围中。

随后，邓美玲、林家宝表演了《锦江诗侣》；朱女、晓毅表演了《绣襦记》之“李仙刺目”；梁恒风、黄嘉裕演绎了《宝莲灯》之“洞天福地”；曾慧、李秋元表演了《天罡剑传奇》之“别家赴刑”；龙贯天、曹秀琴演绎了《朱弁回朝》之“寒江伤别”；压轴节目《文成入藏》则由麦玉清、欧凯明倾情演出。

演出结束后，参加本场演出的陈笑风弟子和粤剧名家纷纷回忆陈笑风的教导，以及合作演出故事。

“陈笑风老师对我们夫妇的成长可谓影响深远。”著名粤剧花旦曹秀琴说，每次陈老师看过她与爱人吴国华演出的新戏，都会叫二人去他家里，就戏中表演帮他们分析讲解。

作为陈笑风的徒弟，林家宝、晓毅和梁恒风回忆，师父经常叮嘱他们，艺无止境，在台上不光要致力唱得好听，更重要的是必须深入把握角色的内心世界，通过细腻传神的表演把人物演活。

文｜记者 黄宙辉 通讯员 邓伟坚
图｜薛才焕
译｜陈萱
责编 | 王楠
校对 | 周勇