Kunqu: A Classical Opera of Twenty-First-Century China - Hardcover

Lam, Joseph S C

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9888754327 ISBN 13: 9789888754328

Publisher: Hong Kong University Press, 2023

Synopsis

In Kunqu: A Classical Opera of Twenty-First-Century China, Joseph S. C. Lam offers a holistic and interdisciplinary view on kunqu, a 600-year-old genre of Chinese opera that is being fashionably performed inside and outside of China. He explains how and why the genre charms and signifies Chinese culture, history, and personhood. As the first comprehensive and scholarly book on kunqu written in English, the book not only discusses the genre in cultural and historical terms but also analyzes its shows as performative, cultural, social, and political communications. It approaches the genre from several perspectives, ranging from those of performers and producers to those of casual audience, dedicated connoisseurs, and scholarly critics. Lam also employs a judicious blend of Chinese and international theories and methods. Through this comprehensive study of kunqu, Lam has established the significance of the genre not only in the sphere of Chinese music, but also among the cultural heritage and performing arts at a global level. 

About this title

About the Author

Joseph S. C. Lam is professor of musicology at the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at the University of Michigan.

Edition details

• Publisher: Hong Kong University Press
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9888754327
• ISBN 13: 9789888754328
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 300