浙江昆剧团成立于1955年,是由著名昆剧表演艺术家周传瑛、王传淞、朱国樑等在原民间戏班“国风苏昆剧团”的基础上组建而成的,是当时全国唯一的昆剧表演团体。1956年,浙昆排演了经过整理改编的传统剧《十五贯》,以其高度的思想性、人民性和艺术性轰动全国,受到了国家高度重视。周恩来总理称誉昆剧为艺术百花园中的“兰花”。《人民日报》以“一出戏救活一个剧种”发表专题社论。从此,各地昆剧院团纷纷成立,昆剧艺术进入了一个新的历史发展时期,浙江也因此成为新中国昆曲的发祥地。
自《十五贯》后,剧团又相继创作和改编演出了《西园记》、《风筝误》、《长生殿》、《浮沉记》等,均在社会上引起了极大反响。一批传统折子戏,如《拾画叫画》、《题曲》、《界牌关》等,经过不断磨砺雕镂,已成为昆剧表演之精品。在周传瑛、王传淞等“传字辈”艺术家的栽培下,剧团的演员阵容曾出现了“传、世、盛、秀”四代同堂的兴旺局面。培养了汪世瑜、王奉梅、林为林等一批优秀的昆剧表演艺术家,享誉海内外。1982年,浙昆获中国文化部授予“继承革新奖”,1986年获浙江省人民政府嘉奖。。
1994年,当时出于浙江昆剧团和浙江京剧团生存的共同需要,将两团优势互补,人员精简,合并成为浙江京昆艺术剧院。合并九年来,浙江昆剧团在出人出戏上也取得了许多骄人的成绩。先后创作排演了昆剧神话儿童剧《寻太阳》(获浙江省首届艺术节优秀演出奖、曹禺文学提名奖、“五个一工程”提名奖),昆剧新编历史剧《少年游》(在1995年晋京参加全国昆剧新剧目展演中,普获赞誉),昆剧新编传统剧《暗箭记》(获浙江省第九届戏剧节优秀剧目奖)等大型优秀剧目。在首届全国青年演员交流演出中,取得了三个“最佳兰花奖”、三个“优秀兰花奖”、五个“兰花奖”的优异成绩。在2002年在苏州举办的“全国昆曲中青年演员评比展演”中,一举夺得四个由中国文化部和联合国颁发的“昆曲艺术促进奖”和四位受表彰有“显著成就”称号的功臣。这些年来,浙昆还多次应邀出访日本、泰国和香港、澳门、台湾等国家与地区,广受赞誉。
2001年5月18日,中国昆曲被列为世界文化遗产,给昆曲的繁荣发展带来新的生机和活力,中国文化部又出台了“昆曲的十年规划”及一系列昆曲艺术保护和发展的措施。鉴于此,在浙江省委、省政府和省文化厅的关怀支持下,为了京、昆事业持续发展的需要,浙江京昆艺术剧院于2003年2月正式撤院分别建团,浙江昆剧团正式恢复了其独立建制。重新挂牌的浙江昆剧团现有演职人员90名,(其中获戏曲梅花奖演员五人,国家一级演员十二人,国家二级演员和各类高级演职员近二十人)并且新培养的第五代昆曲传人“万字辈”也已显露头角。
Brief Introduction of Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Theatre (Troupe)
Chinese Kunqu Opera is one of ancient Chinese operas which has experienced more than 600 years. It is the forbear of
one hundred operas of ancient Chinese operas which underwent from the very beginning of it's initiation, development and sometimes in ups and downs. So its position in Chinese operas was determined. On 18th May, 2001,it was proclaimed the masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity by the UNESCO, with this honor, kunqu opera was attracting the world.
Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Theatre (Troupe) was founded in 1955. It was set up on the basis of Folk Troupe "GouFeng SuKun Opera Troupe" which is formed by the folk artists such as Zhou Chuanying, Wang Chuansong and Zhu Gouliang, etc. In 1956,when the Fifteen String Copper Coins was put on which attracted the people over the nationwide. Because of its art and good ideas, it got appreciation and praise from high-rank officials of the state and the Commumist Party. Primer Zhou Enlai praised it highly and regarded it as "Orchid" in the art flowers garden, the People's Daily delivered an editorial article entitled :"One Play revived an ancient Opera". Since then, series of Kunqu opera troupes set up one after another in Zhejiang, where is the birthplace of kunqu opera. By then Kunqu opera went into a newly developing period.
Since the Fifteen String Copper Coins was on, Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe went on to put a series of plays such as the Love Story in West Garden ,the Longevity Hall, the Story of Ups and Downs which were got high reputation and very good praises. With the training and creating by the Chuan (meaning transfer) generation such as Zhou Chuanying and Wang Chuansong, the performers (actors and actresses) are growing up safe and sound. There are prosperously appearing the four generations in the artist circles. i.e. the Chuan (meaning transfer) generation, the Shi(meaning at present time) generation, the Sheng(meaning prosperity) generation, the Xiu(meaning show, excellence) generation. A great number of artists (actors and actresses) appeared, such as Wang Shiyu, Wang Fengmei,Lin Weilin and etc. they got the prize of inheritance and creation granted by the ministry of culture in 1982. They were also praised as excellent artists by The People's Government of ZhejiangProvince in 1986.
Those years, Zhejiang Kunqu Opera (Troupe) was often invited to go abroad to the countries and regions such asJapan, Thailand, Hongkong, Macau,Taiwan,etc, to give performance. Where they went, there they got honors fromOn May 18th ,2001,Chinese Kunqu Opera was recognized by UNESCO as a sort of world cultural heritage which brings a new gleam of hope to the Troupe (Kunqu Opera Theatre). Later on, the cultural ministry of the state council delivered The Ten Years' Plan for the Kunqu Opera and a series of protecting and developing measures for Kunqu Opera. As so far with the support from the leadership of the provincial rank official and the cultural ministry, for the sake of developing Kunqu Opera, Zhejiang Beijing Opera Theatre and Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Theatre were combinedinto one i.e. becoming Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Theatre(Troupe). Now the newly setting up Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupehas more than 90 actors and actresses. Besides the four generations, the fifth generation of the troupe which was called Wan (meaning Ten Thousand) generation appears.
Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe set to start a new voyage. As the leaders of Xiu(show) generations, we have a deep affection for all generations, as the later generation, we are cared deeply by the Chuan(Transfer), Shi(at presenttime), and Sheng (prosperity) generations, they transfered the art to a new generation deeply in a big family, we feel a great deal of lucky, We'll try our best to do it more, better and best performance for the people.


