If you are an opera fan or just interested in a window into Beijing's mysterious and striking opera performances, it helps to compare them with the more familiar Western genre. Here we contrast seven aspects.
1. Performing Style
Western operas focus on powerful singing and emotional expression during the performances. The acting is self-explanatory, fluid, and life-like.
In Beijing opera, as well as the more stylized singing, each performer's actions are important ways to tell the story.
The performance style is more of a rigid, symbolic visual show. For example, a performer will tie a horsewhip on their wrist and when they wave the horsewhip it means they are riding a horse.
2. Stage Setup
Beijing opera's stage is normally a simple platform that only has one side exposed to the audience.
A Western opera's stage setup is more complicated. The stage normally has vivid and various props.
3. Makeup
Beijing Opera MakeupA Beijing opera performer's makeup is more difficult and complicated than that of a performer in a Western opera.
A Western opera performer's makeup is closer to real life, while makeup for Beijing opera is thick, unnatural, and heavy in colors, which symbolize character roles.
4. Musical Instruments
In Western operas, often a full orchestra is used, while only traditional Chinese percussion instruments, such as drums and gongs, are used in Beijing opera.
5. Role Classification
In Beijing opera, performers are divided into four fixed roles:Sheng (hero), Dan (heroine), Jing (painted face), and Chou (comic). Performers normally train their voices according to their roles.
It's common for the role of the heroine to be played by a man and a hero may be played by a woman, like in Western pantomime. This rarely happens in Western operas.
In Western operas, performers are divided into an infinite variety of roles according to their voice pitch. Normally, their voice range determines their customary role.
6. Vocal Acrobatics
Wang Guowei, a Chinese scholar, has said that Beijing opera uses singing and dancing to express stories. The story plots emerge as the performers use intoned dialogue and actions.
In Beijing opera, each role requires a unique singing technique. These can seem quite unnatural and artificial, with crooning and droning, violin-like rendition of syllables, and startling variations in pitch.
In Western operas, the vocals are strong and clear and include arias (sung melodies). Each performer's vocal range and singing style decides his or her role.
7. Social Class
Beijing opera originated from different folk troupes. It caters to the masses.
Western operas originated during the late 16th century in Italy. Performances were reserved for nobles.
Conclusion
Both Beijing opera (or Peking opera) and Western operas derive from regional interpretations of life and are representative of their region's cultures and storytelling.
Overall, Beijing opera and Western operas highlight a contrast of cultures: China's culture is more intricate and symbolic, while Western culture is more direct and open.
Enjoy Beijing Opera with Us
"It is better to see once than hear a hundred times." This Chinese saying means that nothing beats experiencing something (like Beijing opera) for yourself.
If you have an interest in Beijing opera, just let us know. We can arrange an opera experience to suit you and an expert guide to explain it.
We are here to help you discover China your way. We can create your dream trip from your list of things to do. Or see the recommended tours below for inspiration:
- 8-Day Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai GOLDEN TRIANGLE Tour
- 11-Day Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, and Shanghai CLASSIC WONDERS tour
As an alterative to customizing the recommended tours linked above to meet your individual requirements, we can help you tailor-make a tour according to your interests and requirements.