Often described as a Chinese cultural extravaganza, the Peking Opera is one of the few art forms in the republic that celebrates nearly all the colourful attributes of its unique culture. With its origins dating back to the 1700’s, it is said that the Peking Opera was born out of the Anhui opera and the ‘Four Great Anhui Troupes’, which entertained the court of the Qianlong Emperor in 1790. Originally reserved for the members of the emperor’s court, the art form developed into a structured mode of entertainment in the middle of the 19th century and was subsequently available for public viewing.
Ranked among the top three theatrical systems in the globe, it is also the most prestigious form of Chinese opera, which has 360 diverse provincial operatic styles to its name. Dubbed the national opera of China each province boasts at least several Peking Opera troupes within its artistic community.
The main characteristics of the Peking Opera include its extensive use of dance, music, martial arts, paintings, costumes and acrobatics. Intricate gestures and songs are also focal points of this comprehensive art form, which showcases historic, comedic, tragic and farcical plays and cultural aspects of Chinese life and folklore. Best known for its extensive make-up rituals that exaggerate facial features, the central characters of almost all operas are divided into Dan ( positive lead female role), Sheng (positive lead male role), Jing (supporting male character) and Chou (negative or humorous role).
Employing an orchestra and a percussion ensemble for its musical elements, the opera frequently uses cymbals, bells, castanets and drums, in addition to reed pipes and lutes that are complemented by Huqins, Erhus and Yueqin instruments.
Layered with meaning, the gestures and specific actions of the actors push the plot forward, while other established movements convey a range of emotions. The dialogues as well as the monologues are spoken in Beijing dialect with accompanying subtitles in English and Chinese for the audience’s convenience.
The best venue to experience Peking Opera at its best is of course at Liyuan Theatre where classical operas such as The Drunken Concubine, The Crossroads and Havoc in Heaven are performed each night in front of an appreciative audience, full of locals and tourists.
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