Taiwanese Opera
By Tiffany Lay
As I have been watching the opera videos for class and doing the reading assignments. I have also been sharing with my family my studies and it has come to my attention that Taiwanese Opera (歌仔戲) is also a form of opera that is of an all-female cast. I found this super interesting as I have never really thought about it. I have seen a lot of Taiwanese Opera performances growing up since both of my parents are from own areas in Taipei and lots of old temples even today set up temporary stages and perform these opera performances during special days on the lunar calendar.
As I was discussing this with my family, I shared to them what Yue Opera is, the history, the context, the stories. Even as I was explaining to them the differences of Yue Opera I realize that there are just so many similarities in the two. I can’t believe it never crossed my mind, I guess the biggest reason this never crossed my mind is because of how the two developed. Yue Opera today in most modern cities are performed in National Halls and large convention centers, although I realize that it started from everyday civilian life. Now it has turn into something more for the elite classes at least in the larger cities where tickets must be purchased to watch. Yet the development of Taiwanese Opera is very different, it is still today a part of everyday life, it is still often performed on the streets with temporary stages. Perhaps because religion and rituals are still a large part of Taiwanese society. Taiwanese Opera is really only performed on a stage for tourist as a form of tourist attraction.
I found it very interesting that something that totally oversaw these two forms of Opera as being both Opera. I guess I also thought of Taiwanese Opera as just entertainment and not a form of “art” since it was so much part of everyday life. Yet the fact that they both have all female cast is something that I thought was very interesting. In addition, the roots of Yue Opera was also very local and mostly for the temples to please the gods and the lower middle-class citizens. Obviously Taiwanese Opera does not have much of a long history as Yue Opera does since Taiwanese itself doesn’t even have that long of a history, let the similarities between the two is delightful. Now next time I see a Taiwanese Opera performance I think I will be able to appreciate it so much more.
Taiwanese Opera
Taiwanese Opera
By Tiffany Lay
As I have been watching the opera videos for class and doing the reading assignments. I have also been sharing with my family my studies and it has come to my attention that Taiwanese Opera (歌仔戲) is also a form of opera that is of an all-female cast. I found this super interesting as I have never really thought about it. I have seen a lot of Taiwanese Opera performances growing up since both of my parents are from own areas in Taipei and lots of old temples even today set up temporary stages and perform these opera performances during special days on the lunar calendar.
As I was discussing this with my family, I shared to them what Yue Opera is, the history, the context, the stories. Even as I was explaining to them the differences of Yue Opera I realize that there are just so many similarities in the two. I can’t believe it never crossed my mind, I guess the biggest reason this never crossed my mind is because of how the two developed. Yue Opera today in most modern cities are performed in National Halls and large convention centers, although I realize that it started from everyday civilian life. Now it has turn into something more for the elite classes at least in the larger cities where tickets must be purchased to watch. Yet the development of Taiwanese Opera is very different, it is still today a part of everyday life, it is still often performed on the streets with temporary stages. Perhaps because religion and rituals are still a large part of Taiwanese society. Taiwanese Opera is really only performed on a stage for tourist as a form of tourist attraction.
I found it very interesting that something that totally oversaw these two forms of Opera as being both Opera. I guess I also thought of Taiwanese Opera as just entertainment and not a form of “art” since it was so much part of everyday life. Yet the fact that they both have all female cast is something that I thought was very interesting. In addition, the roots of Yue Opera was also very local and mostly for the temples to please the gods and the lower middle-class citizens. Obviously Taiwanese Opera does not have much of a long history as Yue Opera does since Taiwanese itself doesn’t even have that long of a history, let the similarities between the two is delightful. Now next time I see a Taiwanese Opera performance I think I will be able to appreciate it so much more.
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