On April 20^ththe exhibition, “The Eternal Fame of Qi School – to Memorialize the 120^thBirthday of Zhou Xinfang” opened in the hall of Tongji University’s library. Mr. Cao Rongrui, Vice Secretary General of the Shanghai Party’s Education and Health Committee, Prof. Ma Jinming, Vice Chairman of the University Council, and Ms. Qian Lili, Vice Party Secretary of the Shanghai Peking Opera Theater attended the opening ceremony and unveiled the exhibition together.

2015 is the 120^thbirthday of Zhou Xinfang, a renowned Peking Opera performer and master of Qi School. Zhou Xinfang (1895-1975), whose stage name was Unicorn Kid, founded Qi School, an imported school of Peking Opera involving an old male role from southern China. Zhou Xinfang had a voice that was strong, wide-ranged and resonant--husky yet not raspy. He was especially good at using moves like shaking his beard to present lively and rhythmic performances. In Peking Opera circles, “Mei Lanfang in the South and Zhou Xinfang in the North” and “Unicorn in the South and Horse (Ma Lianliang) in the North” were well-known performers.

Exhibits included displays of pictures, objects and costumes. The exhibition gives a thorough introduction to Zhou Xinfang’s life, his glorious art career and his contribution to Peking Opera. It also fully shows the charm of Qi School. The exhibition is jointly sponsored by the Shanghai University Students’ Practice Base of Opera Art in Tongji University, the Shanghai Peking Opera Theater, and the Tongji University library. It will ultimately be opened in several other universities.

Translated by May Language Studio based upon

http://news.tongji.edu.cn/classid-6-newsid-46605-t-show.html