What is Peking Opera? What are the characteristics of Beijing Opera?

Peking Opera is the most popular and influential drama in China. It is formed by the convergence, integration and development of various local operas in Beijing. It has a history of about 140 years since it appeared.

Since Qianlong in Qing Dynasty, Kunqu Opera, Yiyang Opera and Qin Opera have successively entered Beijing. 1790, Gao Langting, a famous Anhui artist, led the famous Anhui opera Sanqingban to perform in Beijing, which was warmly welcomed by the audience. Later, three Huizhou classes, Sixi, Chuntai and Hechun, entered Beijing and merged with Sanqing Class. Kunqu Opera, Peking Opera (named after Yiyang Opera entered Beijing) and Shaanxi Opera gradually fell into the cold. Around 1830, Hubei Chu Opera (Han Opera) also entered Beijing. Han Opera and Hui Opera are of the same ancestry, so they often perform on the same stage and their vocals are combined with each other. Later, Huizhou Opera absorbed and integrated the essence of Kunqu Opera, Bangzi and Peking Opera.

1850 or so, on the basis of the four Huizhou classes, Peking Opera has made new development, with famous actors such as Cheng Changgeng, Yu Sansheng and Zhang Erkui, known as "San Dingjia". They have made outstanding contributions to the formation and development of Beijing Opera.

Compared with other operas, the art of Beijing Opera highlights the characteristics of concentration, generalization and exaggeration, and forms a complete system and unified style of singing, doing, reading and playing, which is full of distinctive dance and strong sense of rhythm in stage performances.

Over the past 100 years, many famous Peking Opera artists, especially many outstanding performing artists, have formed different schools, which have made great contributions to the development of Peking Opera art and become valuable assets of Peking Opera art. 。

After liberation, Peking Opera has made great achievements. A large number of excellent traditional dramas and new historical dramas have been adapted and created, and many modern dramas have been successfully staged, which has opened the way for the development of Beijing opera. Beijing Opera art delegations have also visited and performed abroad for many times, causing a sensation in the world art world.