Peking Opera
On our last evening in China, a few of us attended the Peking Opera. We arrived early to observe the performers intricately applying their own face paint and preparing their costumes. As the performance began, I must say I was a little surprised. Due to my own ignorance regarding this aspect of the performing arts, I previously associated Operas with just a musical score. At the Peking Opera, music and singing are featured however, they are not the main focus. Instead, the storyline is also conveyed via several expressions including dance, mime, acrobatics, and combat moves. Only a small string and drum ensemble performed the music to help tell the story about evil ones stealing silver and partaking in many battles.
As with many other mediums of the performing arts, we were told that the most important aspect of the Peking Opera is the beauty of the movements of the performers. In this case, the performers were extremely beautiful and talented. It was easier to follow the storyline via their movements than the English translations provided on a screen to the right of the stage. (There were some interesting translations like, “I will hoof your village into dust”) Overall, The Peking Opera was a fun and unique opportunity to further experience China’s culture and to explore part of its history (Operas were very popular in Qing Dynasty courts). I have really
enjoyed the past two weeks exploring business and culture in China and hope to return again in the near future.
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