Tapescripts
◆Module 1 Learn to Talk◆
Speaking
Mark: Have you watched the live broadcast of 54th Grammy Awards Ceremony last night?
Lisa:Oh,of course.It was just wonderful.
Mark:Who impressed you most?
Lisa:Adele.She was the biggest winner last night.She won six Grammy Awards in 2012 including Album of the Year.
Mark:Yah,which songs do you like most?
Lisa:Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like you.
Mark:Me too.The rhythm is strong,and melody is impressive,and the most touching part is the lyrics.
Lisa:I agree.With these two songs,she became the first living artist to achieve the feat of having two top⁃five hits in both the UK Official Singles Chart and the Official Albums Chart simultaneously since the Beatles in 1964.
Mark:You must be her huge fan,you know pretty much about her.
Lisa:Absolutely,I read all news about her,and I bought all her albums.
Mark:Indeed,Adele's unique talent is a gift to music fans.
Lisa:I wish she could have concert tour in China someday.
Mark:That's what I hope too.
Listening
The Chinese Opera Mulan:Introduction
The legendary story of Mulan joining the army first appeared in a folk song called the Poem of Mulan in the Music Bureau of the Northern and Southern Dynasties（420A.D.－589A.D.）in China.In order to retain the family honour,Mulan replaced her ailing father to serve the army in disguise as a young man,stayed on the battlefield for a dozen of years and saved her country from the intruder.The poem was plain in language and condensed in narration.
Based on the original story,the Chinese opera emphasizes Mulan's dreams for love and aspiration for a peaceful life as she gave up the fame and wealth to return home after defeating the enemy,echoing the genuine wish for peace of the Chinese people since ancient times.
Western opera was introduced into China in the early 1900s and integrated with traditional Chinese arts over the last century.The contemporary Chinese opera,while putting together various forms of performance in western opera,blends in elements of Chinese drama and folk music.
During the show,the artists presented a unique Chinese style of singing by incorporating western vocalization with traditional Chinese pronunciation and the charm of music in the Chinese language as well as the subtlety and profoundness of the Chinese melodies.
The Chinese opera Mulan sets a remarkable example for contemporary Chinese opera.