is evolved from comic opera and operetta (or "operetta"). Known as "musical comedy" in the early days, it was later referred to as "musical" for short. It is an opera genre that originated in England at the end of 19th century, and it is a dramatic form performed by combining dialogue and singing. Musical drama, music, singing and dancing are equal to one furnace, full of humor and comedy. Its music is easy to understand, so it is very popular with the public. Musicals are performed on Broadway in the United States.
Opera
is a comprehensive art that integrates music (vocal music and instrumental music), drama (script and performance), literature (poetry), dance (folk dance and ballet) and stage art, and is usually composed of aria, recitation, chorus, overture, interlude and dance scenes (sometimes. As early as in ancient Greek dramas, there were chorus accompaniment, and some recitations even appeared in the form of singing; In the Middle Ages, religious stories were used as the theme, and miracle dramas promoting religious views were also filled with incense and continued. However, the modern western opera, which can really be called "musical drama", came into being at the end of 16th century and the beginning of 17th century with the secularization of music culture in Renaissance. The famous La Traviata is an opera.
dance drama
as a combination of dance, drama and music, has a long history in China.
There is no record about the origin of dance drama art in verifiable historical books. However, music and dance with dramatic factors can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty around the 11th century BC. The famous "Dawu" is a plot large-scale song and dance that combines dance, music, poetry and other artistic forms to express the historical event that the king of Wu destroyed the Shang Dynasty. After that, the "Nine Songs" appeared, although it has a stronger dance drama factor, but it is still not a strict dance drama that we know today. As for the historical fact that after the Ming and Qing Dynasties, dance was integrated into traditional Chinese opera, it can't be said that dance drama was born. As an independent art form, China Dance Drama only appeared in 193s. In a sense, after the introduction of "foreign art" and the exploration of pioneers of new dance art such as Wu Xiaobang, Dai Ailian and Liang Lun, a relatively complete art of China national dance drama was formed.
the exploration of China's dance dramas always follows the principles of "serving the present with the past" and "serving foreign things for China", and pays attention to mastery and popularity among the masses. The exploration of national dance drama has promoted the refining and transformation of traditional opera dance, and gradually formed a conventional "classical dance style".
From 1949 to before the Cultural Revolution, it can be regarded as an experimental new period, and most of its creations are combined with inheriting and developing opera and dance and drawing lessons from the experience of ballet in the former Soviet Union. His works include: The Dove of Peace, The Stealing of Fairy Grass, By the Bilian Pond, The Golden Toad in Liu Hai Play, Lotus Lantern, The Mermaid, Knife Club, Five Red Clouds, Manluohua, Butterfly Lovers, Langya Mountain and so on.
After the "Cultural Revolution", it entered the period of literary and artistic revival, and large-scale dance dramas were launched all over the country, which greatly expanded the creative vision and performance themes of dance dramas. China dance dramas showed a diversified development trend in bold absorption and reference. During this period, his works include: Rain on Silk Road, Princess Wencheng, Cuckoo, Banping Mountain, Flying to the Moon, Fengming Qishan, Fragrance of Mulan, Calling Tree Tun and Nanmu Nona, Zhuowasam, Pearl Lake, snuff and Senjidema.
There is another kind of works in China's dance drama, namely the magnificent music and dance epic. It was originally a traditional art form of music, dance and poetry in China since ancient times, and its source can be traced back to "Da Wu" and "Nine Songs" thousands of years ago. This kind of works can contain a wide range of themes, and it is good at expressing magnificent and important historical themes. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the three-part music and dance epic "Long Live the People's Victory", "Dongfanghong" and "Song of the People's Revolution in China" are out of print.
In addition, since the new period, many antique large-scale music and dances have been staged in China. Such as Imitation of Tang Music and Dance, Tang Chang 'an Music and Dance, and Belling Music and Dance. In addition, the themes reflecting ethnic customs can also be described as dazzling. Among them, Love for Children of the Yellow River, One Side of the Yellow River and rustic ba people are the representatives.
Strictly speaking, opera and ballet are musicals.
Most of the dances in musicals are ballet, modern dance and so on.