Chinese Opera

An artist performs at the opening ceremony of the 5th China Qinqiang Opera Arts Festival in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 28, 2010. The opera festival consists of nearly 60 performances which are shown at many theatres in Xi'an from Aug. 22 to Sept. 6. Qinqiang is a local opera that thrives in northwest China's Gansu, Shaanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang. It is known as the "First Emperor's Opera," indicating it was popular during the reign of Qinshihuang, the first emperor of a united China in the Qin Dynasty

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Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and conductor Tan Dun took a modern approach in producing the opera by bringing "The Peony Pavilion" away from the stage and into the natural setting of Kezhi Garden. Zhang Jun, one of China's top Kunqu Opera masters, acted in the opera, which is dubbed China's very own "Romeo and Juliet."

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Chinese performer He Hongqing can change his facial expressions, and make up, on stage in a flash, but it's not due to skills learned at drama school.

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Based on Tibetan folk songs and dances, Tibetan Opera first appeared towards the end of the fourteenth century and developed into an influential ethnic opera in the seventeenth century. It is popular in Tibetan communities in Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai and southern Gansu.

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The mention of Chinese opera might remind foreign friends immediately of Peking opera, which to them is almost the same as the Chinese opera. This is a sure indication of the influence of Peking opera in China and even in the world.

This impression, though not quite exact, is not far from the truth: Peking opera, which epitomizes Chinese culture and art, is certainly the essence of China. If martial arts can be viewed as the "national arts," the Peking opera can be viewed as the "national drama."

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In the early 20th century, a form of opera called Luodi Changshu Diao was popular in the area of Shengxian County in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. It was named "Yue Opera" because it has its origin in part of Yue State in the Spring and Autumn Period dating back about ...

Shen Fengying, A famous Kunqu opera actress, one of the Five Young Excellent Opera Actress, MFA of Shanghai Theatre Academy China, the winner of the 23rd Mei Hua Award—NO.1 award of the Chinese theatre.

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Peking Opera is classified as an intangible cultural heritage, and as such many productions are financed by the Ministry of Culture.

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Qinqiang is a thousand-year-old operatic genre originating in China's inland northwestern region. It has established a venerable tradition as an "opera shouted out" with its bold, resounding arias. Li Mei has established a reputation as one of the four greatest Qinqiang actresses. She's breathed a very feminine sensibility into the masculine tradition. She's also known for her passionate commitment to exploring the theatrical possibilities offered by Qinqiang, is always more than happy to improvise and experiment.