英语学习网站Zhao Yanxia
(Excerpt)
By Wang Zengqi
Tr. 崽哥
Zhao Yanxia was a fan of folk art performances as a girl. She has probably been much inspired by them–articulation is one example, because northern China folk art gives the clearest articulation. Zhao’s enunciation is clear and clean, which is well known, but her secret is in want of more investigation.
Zhao is a great performer because she had a demanding father, who believed in physical punishment. She has a solid grounding and is a master of legwork. In Da Ying Jie Lie, she could swing her leg upright while standing, and three times in one breath. In the G- C- Revolution (1966-76), we once were confined in the same “cowshed”, which was housed in a low-rise. The “cowshed”, a small room, could only accommodate one table and a few chairs, so the occupants had to sit very closely around the oblong table. If someone sitting further inside wanted to come out, those sitting closer to the door had to stand up to make the way. One day, I happened to be sitting on the inner side of this boss – Zhao Yanxia had once run her own opera troupe. “Excuse me,” I said, wanting to go out. There being no standing up, she just rose her leg straight up, tightly against her head. “Please!” she said.
A few years ago, when I saw her, I made an anecdote of this, asking, “Can you swing your leg that high?” She smiled, “No!” But she can, I believe, after doing some practice.
Zhao, now pushing 60, sings as well as in her younger days, her voice still pleasing to the ear. (271 words)
