Huangmeixi Opera (Huangmei Opera)

Huangmei Opera, formerly named Huangmei Melodies, has a history of 200 years. Originated in the tea-collecting songs in the region of Huangmei, Hubei Province, it incorporates the folk songs in Anhui, Hubei and Jiangxi Province.It takes the best parts of ancient Qingyang Melody and came into being around the area of Anqing, Anhui Province. Huangmei Opera excels in expressing people's feelings and modelling various personalities. It is not only loved by local people, but by international friends as well. It is praised as China's country music.

Huangmei Opera was originally called "Huangmei tune" or "tea-picking opera." It was a folk opera that was formed in the regions of Anhui, Hubei, and Jiangxi at the end of the 18th century. One of the brands shifted to Huaining County, which was the center of Anqing, and mixed with its local art, using its local language to sing and narrate.

Consequently, it formed its own characteristics, called "Huai Tune," the predecessor of Huangmei Opera. At the middle of the 19th century, influenced by "Qingyang" and "Hui" tunes, Huangmei Opera developed into reserved copy opera. As such, it was gradually known and accepted by others.

At the beginning, Huangmei Opera was mainly characterized by singing over dancing. It had no fixed mode, but rather simply mimicked natural life. Some operas had the actions of tumbling and rushing, which was transferred from Qingyang and Hui tunes.

The Huangmei Opera performers mainly came from farmers and workers. And the acting material was usually borrowed from the audiences. It this period, Huangmei Opera was just an art form for the workers to entertain themselves.

Huangmei Opera can be divided into coloratura and pingci. Coloratura stages small operas, and is full of the sense of folk music. Pingci is the main melody of reserved copy opera, which uses narration and lyrics to express its meanings.

Some excellent operas of Huangmei Opera include: The Heavenly Maid and the Mortal, Goddess' Marriage, and Emperor's Female Son-in-law.