Huju opera from Shanghai

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Huju (沪剧; pinyin: Hùjù) opera, or "Songhu opera" is a variety of Chinese opera from the area of Shanghai. It is typically sung in the Shanghainese dialect.

Huju is performed in the Shanghainese dialect of Wu Chinese, which is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin. In other words, a person from Beijing would not understand the lyrics of a Huju piece.

It is particularly popular in Baihe, the oldest town in the Qingpu district of Shanghai. There are eight to ten Huju troupes in the town, and many local residents hire the troupes to perform for weddings and funerals.

Like many of the other regional opera styles, Huju is in danger of disappearing forever. Few young actors take up the art form, since there is much greater fame and fortune to be had in movies, TV, or even Beijing opera. Unlike Beijing opera, which is now considered a national art form, Huju opera is performed in a local dialect, and thus does not translate well to other provinces.

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