On the evening of January 26, the large-scale Yue Opera play "Guangqi in Shanghai" premiered on the Star Stage of the Shanghai Qunyi Museum, reproducing the legendary life of the famous Shanghai sage Xu Guangqi.
Created and performed by the Shanghai Ruyi Yue Opera Troupe, the opera was also a gift presented by the Shanghai literary and art circles on the occasion of the grand commemoration of the 460th anniversary of Xu Guangqi's birth in April this year.
Xu Guangqi (1562-1633), born in Shanghai, was a Jinshi ("presented scholar", the highest level in the civil-service examination) during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and was an official up to the positions of the Minister of Rites, Grand Secretary of Pavilion of the Imperial Library, and the Second Assistant to the Cabinet in Chongzhen period. He was a scientist, agronomist, and politician in the late Ming Dynasty, as well as a pioneer of cultural exchanges between China and the West in the seventeenth century. His translation works Treatise on Agriculture and Jihe Yuanben Books 1-VI (translation of Euclid’s Elements) had a great influence. In contact with the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci who preached the gospel to him, Xu was baptized and became a believer whose Christian name was Paul. He was called the head of the "Three Pillars" of Chinese Catholicism. Many historians referred to him as "the first Chinese person who saw the world with open eyes."
The play was the first one created by Shanghai Ruyi Yue Opera Troupe. Developed along with the plots of "controlling plagues of locusts, translating foreign books, planting sweet potatoes, and reforming the calendar", it arrayed the main achievements of Xu Guangqi from youth to old age and applauded his innovative spirit of openness to see the world and his noble feelings of caring for the necessities of the people.
Xu was closely related to Shanghai, and his name was imprinted extensively in locations such as the Xuhui District, the Xujiahui Origin Scenic Spot, Guangqi Park, and Guangqi City. However, for many people, their knowledge of Xu is only limited to the place names and the few words they read about in textbooks as students.
The creation of the play originated from a short theatrical play "My Heart Remains the Same", which was rehearsed and shown in 2020. It re-created Xu's life achievements and shining personality in the form of his memories, and feedback was very positive for the performance. Then the troupe leader, Tong Lijun, came up with the idea of rehearsing a large-scale play and reproducing his legendary life on the stage. She said, "This is my responsibility as a Shanghainese citizen. I have known the name Xu Guangqi since middle school, but I would only have a vague impression of him if it wasn't for the rehearsal of 'My Heart Remains the Same'. Many of my acquaintances have the same knowledge of this person but have no idea of his deeds."
The main creative team handled the contradiction between ideology and artistry very well as a short play was enlarged to a two-hour opera, and determined the general tone of optimism in the style of light comedy. Among the four scenes, the first three were witty and comedic, followed by the last tragic one to deepen the impression.
"Guangqi in Shanghai" was the first large-scale project materialized according to the Agreement of Joint Development that the troupe signed. After the audition, the opinions of experts and audiences as feedback would be considered to further refine and improve the show. The audience can expect a brand-new performance in April. Furthermore, the play will be performed at schools and communities in the future, so that more people can get to know a different Xu Guangqi along with it.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
1月26日晚，由上海如意越剧团原创演出的大型越剧《海上光启》在上海市群艺馆星舞台首演，将沪上著名先贤徐光启的传奇一生生动再现舞台，受到广大观众欢迎。这也是今年4月，上海文艺界隆重纪念徐光启诞辰460周年之际，所献上的一份厚礼。
徐光启（1562—1633），上海市人，明万历年间进士，官至崇祯朝礼部尚书兼文渊阁大学士、内阁次辅。明末科学家、农学家、政治家，是十七世纪中西文化交流的先驱，所编著的《农政全书》《几何原本》具有重大影响，他接触了来到中国的耶稣会利玛窦神父，并受影响，领洗成为教友，取圣名为保禄，被称为中国天主教“三大柱石”之首，许多史学界专家，称他为“我国睁眼看世界的第一人。”
该剧是上海市如意越剧团首创大戏，通过“治蝗虫、译洋书、种红薯、修历法”等情节，讲述了徐光启自青年到晚年的主要成就，颂扬了他放眼看世界的创新精神、初心为民本的高尚情怀。
徐光启与上海有着密切的联系，比如徐汇区、徐家汇源、光启公园、光启城……对于许多人来说，对于徐光启的认识了解，仅仅停留在地名上和学生时代读到的只言片语。
该剧的创作缘起于2020年给团排演的小戏《初心如一》，以回忆方式再现了徐光启一生的成就和人格光辉，演出后获得好评。于是团长童丽君萌发了排演一出大戏，将其传奇一生搬上舞台的想法。她认为“这是作为上海人的责任感，中学时代就知道徐光启这个名字，但如果不是排练《初心如一》，对于他只是个模糊印象，周围许多人都是类似情况，知道这个人，不知道他曾做过什么。”
将一出十多分钟的小戏扩充到两个小时的大局并非易事。徐光启在政治、科学、经济方面的成就令人高山仰止，无论是修订历书，还是翻译《几何原本》，背后涉及到宏大的历史、政治、科技背景，而这些都要在舞台上形象呈现。主创团队很好处理了思想性和艺术性之间的矛盾，以轻喜剧的风格，确定了乐观的总基调。在四场戏中，前三场都是诙谐幽默的喜剧风格，最后四场以悲剧性加以深刻。
《海上光启》是该团签订共建协议的第一个落地大项目。试演后，还将听取专家、观众意见，进一步打磨提升，以期在4月份以全新面貌呈现给观众，从后还将进入学校、社区，使更多人透过舞台，认识一个不一样的徐光启。
越剧《海上光启》生动再现徐光启传奇一生
On the evening of January 26, the large-scale Yue Opera play "Guangqi in Shanghai" premiered on the Star Stage of the Shanghai Qunyi Museum, reproducing the legendary life of the famous Shanghai sage Xu Guangqi.
Created and performed by the Shanghai Ruyi Yue Opera Troupe, the opera was also a gift presented by the Shanghai literary and art circles on the occasion of the grand commemoration of the 460th anniversary of Xu Guangqi's birth in April this year.
Xu Guangqi (1562-1633), born in Shanghai, was a Jinshi ("presented scholar", the highest level in the civil-service examination) during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and was an official up to the positions of the Minister of Rites, Grand Secretary of Pavilion of the Imperial Library, and the Second Assistant to the Cabinet in Chongzhen period. He was a scientist, agronomist, and politician in the late Ming Dynasty, as well as a pioneer of cultural exchanges between China and the West in the seventeenth century. His translation works Treatise on Agriculture and Jihe Yuanben Books 1-VI (translation of Euclid’s Elements) had a great influence. In contact with the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci who preached the gospel to him, Xu was baptized and became a believer whose Christian name was Paul. He was called the head of the "Three Pillars" of Chinese Catholicism. Many historians referred to him as "the first Chinese person who saw the world with open eyes."
The play was the first one created by Shanghai Ruyi Yue Opera Troupe. Developed along with the plots of "controlling plagues of locusts, translating foreign books, planting sweet potatoes, and reforming the calendar", it arrayed the main achievements of Xu Guangqi from youth to old age and applauded his innovative spirit of openness to see the world and his noble feelings of caring for the necessities of the people.
Xu was closely related to Shanghai, and his name was imprinted extensively in locations such as the Xuhui District, the Xujiahui Origin Scenic Spot, Guangqi Park, and Guangqi City. However, for many people, their knowledge of Xu is only limited to the place names and the few words they read about in textbooks as students.
The creation of the play originated from a short theatrical play "My Heart Remains the Same", which was rehearsed and shown in 2020. It re-created Xu's life achievements and shining personality in the form of his memories, and feedback was very positive for the performance. Then the troupe leader, Tong Lijun, came up with the idea of rehearsing a large-scale play and reproducing his legendary life on the stage. She said, "This is my responsibility as a Shanghainese citizen. I have known the name Xu Guangqi since middle school, but I would only have a vague impression of him if it wasn't for the rehearsal of 'My Heart Remains the Same'. Many of my acquaintances have the same knowledge of this person but have no idea of his deeds."
The main creative team handled the contradiction between ideology and artistry very well as a short play was enlarged to a two-hour opera, and determined the general tone of optimism in the style of light comedy. Among the four scenes, the first three were witty and comedic, followed by the last tragic one to deepen the impression.
"Guangqi in Shanghai" was the first large-scale project materialized according to the Agreement of Joint Development that the troupe signed. After the audition, the opinions of experts and audiences as feedback would be considered to further refine and improve the show. The audience can expect a brand-new performance in April. Furthermore, the play will be performed at schools and communities in the future, so that more people can get to know a different Xu Guangqi along with it.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
The Yue Opera 'Guangqi in Shanghai' Debuts
