Chengdu, the capital city of the province of Sichuan, is famous for spicy food but also for its distinctive style of opera and for the performing art of face-changing, which involves removing layers of masks faster than the eye can see how it’s done. I have seen both opera and face-changing in Chinese movies, which I got into when Indie Mom started watching them in high school, then I married a man who also has an interest in Chinese language and culture.
I am not going to post any Chinese opera mp3s here, but if you are interested in the subject, I can highly recommend two movies. The first is a 1993 film centered around Beijing opera, Farewell My Concubine, which stars the gorgeous actress Gong Li. The other is King of Masks, an adorable story of an old man who can pass on his art of face-changing only to a male heir. This is a great movie to show U.S. kids what it is like to grow up in a culture where girl children have far less value than boys. Both movies can be rented on DVD. I own them.
The only package tour we took during our trip was to a stage show in Chengdu that featured both Sichuan opera and face-changing. And fire-blowing! Here are some highlights from the evening.
I had limited Internet access while I was away, so I haven’t visited other blogs and have checked only a few of the bazillion e-mails I received in the past 20 days. Here are a few highlights from the ones I have looked at, related only by the fact that I like the songs, and certainly not related at all to Chinese opera. I will post more soon as I catch up.
School of Seven Bells: Face To Face In High Places (Jesu remix)
MySpace | Ghostly International
Emilie Mover: Brand New from Good Shake, Nice Gloves (2008)
MySpace | Website
The Do: Tammie from A Mouthful
MySpace | Buy
David Mead: Last Train Home from Almost And Always (official release 8/25/09)
MySpace | Website
Math the Band: Why Didn’t You Get A Haircut? from Don’t Worry (official release date 6/16/09)
MySpace | Slanty Shanty Records
Wheels On Fire: I’m Turning Into You from Get Famous
MySpace | Big Legal Mess Records
- alt-gramma (370)
- indie.mom (395)
- Uncle T (7)
I must be an idiot, because I can’t figure out how to see those pictures!
I know nothing about face-changing, so I’m going to research. You’ve piqued my interest!
Our 12 year old takes Mandarin as his language choice, and he’s enjoying his studies about China. Perhaps he’ll go someday and enjoy it as much as you did!
June 5th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
You can’t see the pictures? When you click on the first photo, it should enlarge and then show you Previous and Next links in the upper right corner. What browser do you use? I use both Firefox and Chrome (I hate IE), and it works in either of those. If there is a browser where this gallery does not work, I need to let the designer know about it.
You and your 12-year-old would definitely enjoy King of Masks, especially since he is studying Mandarin. I showed it to He Might Be Giant, and he is 13.
June 5th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Got it! I don’t know what I clicked, but I can see the photos now.
Great shots! LOVE the costumes.
June 7th, 2009 at 7:02 pm