Beijing Opera is deemed as the national opera and national quintessence. The largest opera form in China, which is extolled as 'Oriental Opera'. Having a history of 200 years, the accompanying music, singing and costumes are all fascinating and artistic. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents audience an encyclopedia of Chinese culture as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite costumes, graceful gestures and acrobatic fightings. Since it enjoys a higher reputation than other local operas, almost every province of China has more than one Peking Opera troupe to entertain numerous fans, who are called piaoyou in Chinese. It is so popular in the Chinese people, especially the senior that even an activity called Peking Opera Month is held.
Beijing opera has created many 'firsts' in Chinese dramas: the abundance of repertoires, the number of artists, opera troupes and spectators. It is generally accepted that Beijing Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when Beijing opera of china is a national treasure in the 55th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1790), the four big Huiban opera Troupes entered the capital and combined with Kunqu opera, Yiyang opera, Hanju opera and Luantan in Beijing's thearetical circle of the time. Through a period of more than half a century of combination and integration of various kinds of opera there evolved the present Peking opera, the biggest kind of opera in China, whose richness of repertoire, great number of artists of performance and of audiences, and profound influence are incomparable in China.
Beijing Opera is developed from absorbing many other dramatic forms, Beijing opera mostly from the local drama 'Huiban' which was popular in South China during the 18th century. It is a scenic art integrating music, performance, literature, aria, and face-painting. Certain rules are set up and regulations are standardized during many artists' long practice on stage. Different from regional plays, it is stricter on the variety of the workmanship. The combination of virtual and reality - a special technique of expression, keeps it largely free from the restriction of time and space on stage performance. Beijing Opera has had many interesting names since it came into being, such as Jinghuang, Daxi, Pingju, Jingxi. The repertoire of Peking opera is mainly engaged in fairy tales of preceding dynasties, important historical events, emperors, ministers and generals, geniuses and great beauties, from the ancient times to Yao, Shun, Yu, the spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period and the dynasties of Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing.
In the ancient times, Beijing Opera was mostly performed on open-air stages, such as markets, streets, teahouses or temple courtyards. The orchestra had to play loudly and the actors had to develop a piercing style of singing and performing, so it could be heard over the crowds. The costumes are a garish collection of sharply contrasting colors because the stages were dim, lit only by oil lamps. It is a harmonious combination of Grand Opera, Ballet and acrobatic display, which consist of dancing, dialogue, monologue, acrobatic combat and mime. However emphasis will lie on the stage. Beijing Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and eventually became more accessible to the common people.
|