Chapter 13 For "Russian Opera"

I don't know—in fact, I can be regarded as knowing, but I want to say this—why the Russian opera troupe [2] left his hometown, but came to China to drink some tea with this wonderful art.You better go back! I went to the first stage to play a Russian opera. It was the night of the fourth day, and it was the second day of the performance. As soon as I entered, I had a strange mood: there were more than 30 people in the center, a large group of soldiers next to it, but there were more than 300 spectators in the fourth and fifth classes upstairs.Someone who first arrived in Beijing soon said: I seem to be living in the desert. [3] Yes, the desert is here.

No flowers, no poetry, no light, no heat.No art, and no fun, and as far as no curiosity. heavy sand... What a cowardly person I am.At this time, I thought: If I were a singer, my voice might be dulled. The desert is here. Yet they danced and sang, beautifully and honestly, and valiantly. Clouds that flow and sing...the soldiers clap their hands, while kissing.The soldiers clapped again, while kissing again. Several of the non-soldiers clapped their hands, also during the kiss, and one was the loudest, surpassing that of the soldiers. What a narrow person I am.At this time, I thought: If I were a singer, I am afraid that I would collect my harp and silence my singing.If not, I will sing my song of rebellion.

And really, I sang my song of defiance! The desert is here, horrible... yet they danced and sang, beautiful and honest and valiant. You wandering artists, singing and dancing in loneliness, I am afraid that you have already returned to your heart.You probably have no intention of revenge, but once we go back, we will be revenged. A world scarier than the desert is here. Alas!This is my song of rebellion against the desert, it is a persuasion to acquaintances and strangers who feel the same way, and it is also an advertisement for singers wandering in the midst of loneliness. April 9th.

KK [1] This article was originally published in the "Morning News Supplement" on April 9, 1922. 〔2〕Russian opera troupe refers to the Russian opera troupe that came to Beijing via Harbin, Changchun and other places in the spring of 1922 (an art troupe that came out of exile after the October Revolution). It performed on the first stage in Beijing in early April. [3] refers to Ailuo Xianke.See note [25] on page 229 of this book.For his words about the desert, see "Scream Duck Comedy".