Flower Drum Opera (Changsha)

DATE:09-06-2011

Flower Drum Opera is a kind of folk playlet. It stems from Changsha folk songs and dances. From the Qing Dynasty it has come into vogue, and up to the present it is still very popular. Changsha Flower Drum Opera takes Changsha officialese as its stage language. Its actors include various roles such as clown, Xiaodan (young female) and Xiaosheng (young male). Its arias are classified into three kinds: Chuan aria, Daluo aria and folk song Dengdiao aria. The clown, Huadan (female) and Er’dan (second female) are main performers in Flower Drum Opera, and it is full of life elements and artistic characteristics. Woodcutter Liuhai and other Flowers Drum Operas have ever won state-level prizes. The Opera is very popular in Changsha, and it is deeply loved by the local people.