Famous Chinese crosstalk performer Hou Yaowen died of heart
disease at the age of 59 at his home in Beijing at 6:30 PM
Saturday.
Hou, the son of crosstalk master Hou Baolin, had learnt
crosstalk since he was young. He started to perform on stage since
1960 and was deeply loved by Chinese and foreign audience.
Hou was also vice chairman of the Chinese Quyi Artists
Association. Quyi refers to folk vocal art forms such as ballad
singing, story-telling, comic dialogue, clapper talk and
crosstalk.
Crosstalk, or xiangsheng, is a language art combining four basic
techniques: speech, mimicry, comedy and song. Xiangsheng can be
performed by one person or more, but the most common form is two
people. Crosstalk performers try to use funny conversations to make
the audience laugh.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2007)
