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Unit 5 Lesson 2 Beijing Opera Listen to the first and second part of a TV programme.Use the Strategies to answer the questions. Welcome to What's Your Rhythm. In today's programme, we're going to discuss Beijing Opera.But first, we have Professor Shang Xiaoming, to introduce us to the topic.We have also invited to the studio two high school students who want to know more about Beijing Opera. Professor Shang, what is Beijing Opera and when did it start? Beijing Opera is a national treasure of China.The art started in the late 18th century and it combines acting, talking, singing, music, dancing and acrobatics.Actors play one of four roles: sheng, male roles; dan, female roles;chou, clown roles and jing roles with brightly-painted face masks.Each role has its own singing and acting styles. Professor Shang, could you tell us something about the style of the music and singing in Beijing Opera? Yes, certainly.In the early days, Beijing Opera was most often performed on open-air stages in markets, streets, teahouses or outside temples.The music had to be played loudly and the performers had to sing with sharp voices, in order to be heard over the crowds.Slowly, this kind of singing became a special style of Beijing Opera. Professor Shang, the costumes in Beijing Opera are often very bright. Why is this? That's a good question.As I mentioned just now, Beijing Opera was often performed on open-air stages and the stages were lit only by oil lamps.If the costumes weren't in bright colours, the crowds wouldn't be able to see them clearly. Exercise 5 Read and listen to the last part of the programme.Then answer the questions. Professor Shang, the stage design of Beijing Opera is usually very simple.Sometimes, there are just two chairs and a table.How do the performers perform on such a simple stage? Well, symbols play a very important role in Beijing Opera.Many body movements can represent actions such as opening a door, climbing a hill, going upstairs or rowing a boat.For example, when a lady is riding in a carriage, the performer actually walks with a flag on each side.Four generals and four soldiers represent an army of thousands.In other words, every action and movement in Beijing Opera is important. Well, thank you very much, Professor Shang.We've certainly learned a lot about Beijing Opera today. 尚教授，京剧的舞台设计通常很简单。有时候，只有两张椅子和一张桌子。 演员如何在这么简单的舞台上表演？ 哦，符号在京剧中扮演着重要的角色。许多身体动作可以表示例如开门、爬山、上楼或划船等动作。例如，当表现一位女士在乘马车时，表演者通常用身体两边分别拿着一面旗走路表示。四个将军和四个士兵代表着有数千人的军队。换句话说，京剧中的每个动作都很重要。 哦，非常感谢你，尚教授。我们今天已经了解了很多关于京剧的知识。 Exercise 6 Listen to two dialogues. What do the students Li Ming and Zhu Meiling get permission for? What do they not get permission for? 1.Yes, what is it?... I'm in a bit of a hurry. You know my classmate Yang Pufang. Is he the boy whose father is a doctor? Yes, that's the one. Well, Pufang's going to have a birthday party this Saturday afternoon. Is it OK if I go? But your grandpa and grandma are coming to stay with us this weekend. Please Mum. The party's a special occasion and everyone's going to it. Oh, all right... I'll let you go, but I need you to be back by 8 o'clock the latest. Thanks, Mum. And I was thinking... can I go to the cinema with Pufang on Sunday? There's a really good cartoon showing. What about your grandpa and grandma? Who's going to help me look after them if you go? Oh, Mum, Please let me go to the cinema. You can go to Pufang's birthday party but you can't go to the cinema. I'm sorry, but I'm going to need your help this Sunday. That's my final word! OK. 2.Excuse me, Miss Wang? Yes, Meiling. Would it be all right if I handed in my project next week? But you've had an extra week already. Well, I've been ill all week and haven't been able to do the work. Are you better now? Yes, much better. Thank you. OK, you can give me your project first thing on Monday morning. Thank you, Miss Wang. There's one more thing. Yes? Could I write up the project in Chinese? No, I'm afraid you can't. You must use English like all the other students. OK. Exercise 7 Listen again and complete the Function File with these words: |
