STUDY IN CHINA GLOBAL (SCG)Chinese opera falls into more than 300 forms of traditional operas, of which Peking Opera（京剧，Jīngjù）is the most popular. Peking Opera evolved from Kunqu Opera（昆曲，Kūnqǔ）, an even more ancient art of drama listed by UNESCO in 2001 among the first group of works representing humankind through oral history. Other popular local operas include Yueju（越剧，Yuèjù）(Shaoxing Opera（绍剧，Shàojù）from Zhejiang), Huangmeixi（黄梅戏，Huángméixì）(from Anhui), Chuanju（川剧，Chuānjù）(Sichuan Opera), Yuju（豫剧，Yùjù）(Henan Opera), and Yueju（粤剧，Yuèjù ） (Guangdong Opera). Peking Opera developed in early 19th-century Beijing and presents singing, music, chanting, dancing and martial arts all in one stage performance. The dramatic masks and costumes of Peking Opera are world-renowned. Famous Peking Opera actors and actresses over the years included Mei Lanfang（梅兰芳，Méi Lánfāng）, Cheng Yanqiu（程砚秋，Chéng Yànqiū）, Ma Lianliang（马连良，Mǎ Liánliáng）, Zhou Xinfang（周信芳，Zhōu Xìnfāng）and Du Jinfang（杜近芳，Dù Jìnfāng）. Since the 1990s, the emergence of highly talented young performers has helped demonstrate the continued importance of Peking Opera in Chinese culture. In recent years, the Peking Opera Theatre of China has experimented with incorporating western symphonic music in its productions.
Beijing Opera
Peking Opera（京剧，Jīngjù）, which originated in the late 18th century, is a synthesis of music, dance, art and acrobatics. It is the most influential and representative of all operas in China.
Peking Opera can be divided into “civil” pieces characterized by singing, and “martial” ones featuring acrobatics and stunts. Some operas are a combination of both.
The operatic dialogues and monologues are recited in Beijing dialect, and some of the words are pronounced in a special fashion, unique to the opera.
Peking Opera has “chang（唱，chàng）”(singing),”nian（念，niàn）”(dialogue),”zuo（做，zuò）”(acting)and “da（打，dǎ）”(martial arts) as its basic performing forms.”chang” is mainly performed in the tunes of “xipi（西皮，xīpí）”(used for expressing strong emotions) and “erhuang（二黄，èrhuáng）”(used for expressing deep and sorrowful feelings).”Nian” is mainly done in the tones of “yun bai” and “jing bai”.”Zuo” means the body movements (dancing and acting) of the actor or actress.”Da” is the martial art with acrobatic actions.
The music of Peking opera is that of the “plate and cavity style”.Its melody with harmonious rhythms is graceful and pleasing to the ears. The melody may be classified into two groups: “Xipi” and “erhuang”, guiding pattern, original pattern, slow pattern, quick pattern, desultory pattern being their chief patterns. The performance is accompanied by a tune played on wind instruments, percussion instruments and stringed instruments, the chief musical instruments being jinghu（京胡，jīnghú）(a two-stringed bowed instrument with a high register), yueqin（月琴，yuèqín）( a four-stringed plucked instrument with a full-moon-shaped sound box), sanxian（三弦，sānxián）( a three-stringed plucked instrument), suona horn（唢呐，suǒnà）, flute drum, big-gong, cymbals, small-gong, etc.
Sichuan Opera
China has an abundance of 1,300 local operas,Sichuan opera is one of the China1s oldest local operas and is popular in Sichuan province and some regions of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. It is the most significant and most interesting opera form from Southwestern China.As a stage entertain-ment,it conveys the idea of time and space to the audience through performances. the opera is characterized by its unique solo singing,refined acting,rich percussion and irresistibly funny come-dians,Sichuan opera also displays its unique skills: the changing faces, spitting fire, and rolling light. Numerous Sichuan opera troupes are active throughout the province, both in the countryside and in the troupes in Chengdu are rate artistically top level.
The face changing, or “bianlian（变脸，biàn liǎn）” in Chinese,is an important intangible cultural heritage in China. only a few masters have grasped this skill. they know how to change Sichuan opera masks in magically quick succession.As they flourish their arms and twist their heads, their painted masks change again and again and again.
Sichuan Opera
China has an abundance of 1,300 local operas,Sichuan opera is one of the China1s oldest local operas and is popular in Sichuan province and some regions of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. It is the most significant and most interesting opera form from Southwestern China.As a stage entertain-ment,it conveys the idea of time and space to the audience through performances. the opera is characterized by its unique solo singing,refined acting,rich percussion and irresistibly funny come-dians,Sichuan opera also displays its unique skills: the changing faces, spitting fire, and rolling light. Numerous Sichuan opera troupes are active throughout the province, both in the countryside and in the troupes in Chengdu are rate artistically top level.
The face changing, or “bianlian（变脸，biàn liǎn）” in Chinese,is an important intangible cultural heritage in China. only a few masters have grasped this skill. they know how to change Sichuan opera masks in magically quick succession.As they flourish their arms and twist their heads, their painted masks change again and again and again.
Qinqiang
Qinqiang Opera（秦腔，Qínqiāng） is a local Chinese opera that mainly thrives in North China’s Shanxi Province, as well as its neighboring northwestern regions, like Gansu and Qinghai provinces and the Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions.
Huangmei Opera
Huangmei Opera was originally called “Huangmei tune（黄梅戏，Huángméi Diào）” or “tea-picking opera（采茶戏，cǎichá xì）”. 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.
Chinese opera evolved from folk songs, dances, talking, antimasque, and especially distinctive dialectical music. Gradually it combined music, art and literature into one performance on the stage. For Chinese, especially older folks, to listen to this kind of opera is a real pleasure.I hope our students enjoy it too.
