It brings together art forms such as singing, dancing, martial arts and acrobatics. The stories told in classic Peking Opera works are mainly based on Chinese folk tales and classic literature works, displaying traditional Chinese virtues, like loyalty, bravery and honesty. Contemporary Peking Opera works capture the essence of the ancient art form, as well as appealing to the young audiences.
"All the Peking Opera companies we invited to join in this performing program will bring their most classic and best-selling productions. Audiences will enjoy different performing styles and performances by top Peking Opera stars from around the country," says Wang Yong, president of the China National Peking Opera Company, adding that all the performances will be staged at the Mei Lanfang Theatre in the capital.
Wang mentions the event happened in 1790, which is considered vital to the birth of Peking Opera. Four Hui Opera troupes visited Beijing as part of celebrations for the 80th birthday of Emperor Qianlong (1711-99). Hui Opera, or huiju, is a form of traditional Chinese opera from Anhui province. In about 1840, Peking Opera began to formally take shape, growing rapidly during the reign of Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908), a Chinese opera lover.
After this, the art form was developed with troupes being formed in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.
"Peking Opera was born under the influence of other traditional Chinese opera forms, such as Hui Opera. When the Hui Opera artists came to perform in Beijing, they not only performed but also communicated with local artists of Chinese traditional operas. Communication is important, which allows us to learn and get inspired," says Wang, mentioning that the China National Peking Opera Company has produced some popular productions by adapting from other forms of traditional Chinese operas, such as Yueju Opera, which originated in East China's Zhejiang province, Huju Opera from Shanghai and Yangju Opera from Yangzhou, Jiangsu province.
According to Wang, the company has adapted Western classic works into Peking Opera productions, which received warm feedback from audiences both from home and abroad.
This year, the company will work with Russian theater companies to adapt Pushkin's masterpiece Eugene Onegin into a Peking Opera production.
The China National Peking Opera Company will, this summer, also tour with its Peking Opera productions, such as The Warrior Women of Yang and Prosperity Brought by the Dragon and the Phoenix, to Chinese provinces, including Hunan, Liaoning and Zhejiang.
"Those events will not only be enjoyed by audiences, but also benefit young Peking Opera performers, who will gain more experience onstage and learn with Peking Opera masters from around the country," says Yuan Huiqin, artistic director of the China National Peking Opera Company, who is a well-known actress playing lao dan, or older female roles.
