Research On Current Conditions, Problems Of Changsha Huagu Opera Groups And Solutions For Their Future Development

In recent years, we have seen extraordinary active performances from some folk Huagu opera groups (also namely Flower-Drum opera) in Changsha after the state-owned and collective Huagu opera groups or theaters stopped their daily performance. With close observations on several folk Huagu opera groups which has persistently delivered their acting around the city, this paper is attempting to produce an elaboration and analysis with focuses on the current conditions and severe problems faced by Huagu opera groups in Changsha and relevant solutions for its development.The origin and development of the Changsha Huagu opera and its performing groups have been firstly demonstrated in the writing. The local opera was initiated from various types of folk music and dances:Dihua Drum (Ground-and-Flower Drum), Hua Deng (Flower-Lantern Song and Dance), Zhuma Deng (Bamboo-Horse-Lantern Song and Dance), and its evolution has experienced phases of showing spontaneous performances in country area, acting on rural grass stage and performing under the organization of groups or associations in urban places. Then, through a depth of analysis on its artistic style and aesthetic characteristics, the author reveals the reasons why the art has enjoyed long-term fondness from people and constant developments of its performing groups. And elaboration and exploration then go further to the current condition of opera groups by illustrating the situations in its organization and management, composition and internal relations, internal rules and disciplines, performing arts and plays, revenue and distribution, as well as operational management of performance and intended audience. Moreover, the paper moves its focus to the difficulties and confines, including insufficient long-term planning, arbitrary internal management, inefficient incentive arrangement, obsolete plays and singing tune, inadequate sense of innovation, currently challenging the. existence of the local opera groups under the climate of sluggish development in Chinese operas. In addition, solutions for its future developments are presented in the closing part of the paper, in which the writer stresses the significance of properly recognizing the value and role of performing groups and efficiently promoting their growth, specifically being introduced in four suggestions:government should attach great importance to the issue with more support, the sense of innovation and reforming should be fostered and encouraged, more opera fans and audiences should be cultivated, market-oriented management and sense of uniqueness should be advocated and strengthened.To some extent, the Changsha Huagu opera group is an epitome of folk opera groups in China, which reflects the real condition and future development of Chinese local operas in the contemporary modern society. The study aims to attract great attentions from relevant authorities so that, with joint effort and assistance, sustainable development will be realized in performing groups of folk Huagu opera in Changsha.