orientallyyours:Mei Lanfang 梅蘭芳 (1894-1961) in “Heavenly maid scatters flowers&q
orientallyyours:Mei Lanfang 梅蘭芳 (1894-1961) in “Heavenly maid scatters flowers" a song and dance play of the early 20th century. Date: 1918. One of the most famous Beijing Opera artists in modern history, Mei came from a family of gender-bending Beijing Opera performers. His grandfather was one of the Empress Dowager’s favourite female role actors, and his father also played women roles. Mei Lanfang was exclusively known for his qingyi roles (female characters). He was the first artist to spread Beijing Opera outside of China, participating in cultural exchanges and touring the world. In 1930, he toured North America, forming friendships with contemporaries such as Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. He also toured Europe in 1935, and his performance impressed and influenced German playwright Bertolt Brecht. Source:Online Archive of California -- source link
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