Kunqu Opera (昆曲) is one of the oldest forms of opera. It makes a 【小题1】 (contribute) to other forms of opera in the country, 【小题2】 (include) Sichuan and Beijing operas. Kunqu 【小题3】 (experience) several stages of change over the past hundreds of years. It was 【小题4】 (original) made up of long and short lines, with a singer singing solo and the orchestra coming in at 【小题5】 end of each line. During the Ming Dynasty, it became smoother and more graceful, with performers focusing 【小题6】 how clearly they sang lines. The 【小题7】 (song) were written in seven-character or ten-character lines. This differs greatly from the opera’s emphasis during the Yuan Dynasty, 【小题8】 only percussions (打击乐器) were used in the chorus. In the style that developed during the Ming Dynasty, more musical instruments such as bamboo flutes and drums were used. Known as the mother of all Chinese operas, Kunqu is named after 【小题9】 (it) birthplace, Kunshan, located near Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

UNESCO listed Kunq u Opera as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001, which hopes 【小题10】 (ensure) that the best of each country’s traditions is well preserved, developed and promoted throughout the world.

Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest forms of opera still existing in China, with its origins dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. Kunqu Opera, 【小题1】 is also called Kunshanqiang, is said to be the mother of all Chinese operas. The traditional performing art was named after【小题2】 ( it) birthplace, Kunshan, near the city of Suzhou in today’ s Jiangsu Province of East China.

【小题3】 development of Kunqu Opera went through several stages. In the early days, the songs were composed of long and short lines. The singer sang alone, and the orchestra (管弦乐队) came in at the end of each line. In the course, only percussion instruments( 打击乐器) 【小题4】 ( apply). In the Ming Dynasty, after Wei Liangfu’s【小题5】 ( science) reform, Kunqu Opera became mild, smooth and graceful. The performers attached great importance【小题6】 clear recitation, correct singing and pure tunes. And the songs were witten in either seven-character lines【小题7】 ten-character lines. Moreover, three types of musical instruments (stringed instruments, bamboo flutes, and drums and clappers) formed the accompaniment. In addition, the jing and chou roles were no longer those merely【小题8】 (represent) foolish, awkward, or mean people.

Kunqu Opera has suffered a decline since the eighteenth century. The reason is that the audience is required 【小题9】 (have) a high level of technical knowledge. Today, it’ s facing【小题10】 ( compete) from mass culture and a lack of interest among the young.

Tibetan Opera has a history of more than 600 years. 【小题1】 (know) as a living fossil (化石) of the Tibetan culture, Tibetan Opera has splendid artistic value that 【小题2】 (allow) it to remain lively all the time. It is a 【小题3】 (deep) loved art form among Tibetan people.

Among diverse operas inspired or adapted from the folk 【小题4】 (story) passed down in the ethnic group, those about King Gesar have always been 【小题5】 (they) most favorite. The operas fill Tibetan people, both young 【小题6】 old, with a sense of cultural identity and historical continuity.

The Yel Bumen Troupe (剧团) is 【小题7】 famous troupe that performs operas about King Gesar. “Based 【小题8】 the traditional stories of the king, we have made some innovations about costumes, stage setting and music. The results are 【小题9】 (impress). It greatly encourages us 【小题10】 people love our King Gesar on stage,” said Lhom, head of the troupe.