Published : 2025-02-02
On February 2, 2020, Ma Qi (馬騏), a Qu opera (曲劇) maestro and the inheritor of national-level Intangible Cultural Heritage Henan Qu opera, passed away in Luoyang of Henan Province at the age of 97.
Born in Xuchang of Henan, Ma Qi's ancestral home was in Fengqiu County. He was a renowned Qu opera performing artist, a Qu opera maestro, and the founder of the Ma style in Qu opera as well as the originator of the opera boot-kicking skill.
In 1940, he apprenticed under Ma Wencai to learn opera. In 1949, he returned to Henan and became an actor with the Lingbao Qu opera Troupe; in 1953, he became the head of the Mianchi County Qu opera Troupe. In 1956, he joined the China Theatre Association
In 1973, he was transferred to the Luoyang Regional Qu opera Troupe as an actor. In 1978, he became the deputy head of this troupe.
And in 2008, he was recognised as a representative inheritor of the second batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage representative projects.
Ma Qi's singing mainly utilised his natural voice, with solid and resonant middle notes, deep and powerful low notes, and high notes that lightly flitted over, displaying a humorous and witty tone.
In terms of performance, Ma's hat-feather skill, beard skill, and boot skill were also considered "three uniques," especially his creation of the "boot-kicking" performance in the play "Kou Zhun Carries Boots," which is acclaimed as a unique act in the opera community.
Representative plays include "Kou Zhun Carries Boots" (寇準背靴), "Running to Bianjing" (跑汴京), "Jiu Ling Rescues the Emperor" (九齡救主), "The Four Scholars" (四進士), and others.
