Ma Lianliang

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Ma Lianliang 马连良

Ma Lianliang (马连良1901-1966) was China's master performer of old male characters - Lao Sheng - in Peking Opera.

Born on February 28, 1901, Ma Lianliang began studying Peking Opera at the age of eight and started performing at 10. Organizing an opera troupe at 29, he became the leading role on the stage.

Ma absorbed the skills of Tan Xinpei, founder of the Tan School, and integrated fine elements of other master performers. He originated the Ma School that became famous in the 1920s and remained a brilliant performer up to the 1960s.

Ma spared no effort to improve his performance, which was elegant and classic in singing, dialogue and pantomime. His magnum opus including "Borrowing Easterly Winds," "Ganlu Temple," "Huai River Camp" and "Orphan of the Zhao Clan" are popular for Peking Opera lovers.

Selected twice as one of the four greatest performers of old male characters, he promoted the development of Peking Opera by implementing reforms in scrip writing, music composition, speech presentation, costumes and props, and stage setting.

Ma died on December 16, 1966. He had seven children from his first marriage and four children from his second marriage.