Beijing opera
Traditional Chinese performance
Beijing opera is a traditional Chinese theatrical art form combining music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics.
Performers wear elaborate costumes and stylized makeup that indicates character types—red for loyalty, white for treachery.
The art developed in Beijing in the late 18th century and remains China's most celebrated operatic tradition: We saw a Beijing opera performance featuring the Monkey King.
Raised performance platform
- spectacleVisually striking event
- troupeTraveling group of performers
- theaterVenue for live drama
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
curtain · rehearsal · premiere · finale · ovation · encore · intermission · playbill
Skilled physical feats
- tumblingAcrobatic rolling and flipping
- somersaultsFull rotational body tumbles
- martial artsCodified fighting systems
- swordplayArt of fighting with blades
Ornamental coverings for heads
- robesLong loose outer garments
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
- silkFine woven insect fiber
- brocadeRaised-pattern luxury fabric
tassels · ornate · armor · beards · platform shoes · ceremonial · elaborate · colorful
Chinese bowed string instrument
- percussionSound through impact
- gongsLarge struck percussion discs
- clappersBell's internal hammers
- drumsStruck membrane instruments
cymbals · ban · arias · recitative · falsetto · orchestra · rhythmic patterns
Meanings assigned to hues
- red faceFlushed complexion from emotion
- white faceBlanched or painted features
- mask-likeHaving fixed features
- stylizedGiven artistic treatment
Last Chinese imperial regime
- UNESCOCultural arm of UN
- national treasureValued cultural possession
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
Account of events
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- comedyWork meant to amuse
- historical dramaFiction set in past
- protagonistStory's central figure
stage
Raised performance platform
audience · curtain · rehearsal · premiere · finale · ovation · encore · intermission · playbill · proscenium
acrobatics
Skilled physical feats
- tumblingAcrobatic rolling and flipping
- somersaultsFull rotational body tumbles
- martial artsCodified fighting systems
headdresses
Ornamental coverings for heads
- robesLong loose outer garments
- embroideryDecorative stitching on fabric
- silkFine woven insect fiber
brocade · tassels · ornate · armor · beards · platform shoes · ceremonial · elaborate · colorful · regalia
erhu
Chinese bowed string instrument
- percussionSound through impact
- gongsLarge struck percussion discs
- clappersBell's internal hammers
drums · cymbals · ban · arias · recitative · falsetto · orchestra · rhythmic patterns
color symbolism
Meanings assigned to hues
- red faceFlushed complexion from emotion
- white faceBlanched or painted features
- mask-likeHaving fixed features
Qing dynasty
Last Chinese imperial regime
- UNESCOCultural arm of UN
- national treasureValued cultural possession
- traditionCustom passed through generations
narrative
Account of events
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- comedyWork meant to amuse
- historical dramaFiction set in past
- ChinaShanghai, Great Wall, Yellow River, Chinese calligraphy, Forbidden City
- Chinese cultureConfucianism, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese New Year, Daoism, Shanghai
- Asian artskabuki, noh theater, bunraku, ukiyo-e, sumi-e
- World Theaterkabuki, bunraku, Greek tragedy, mystery plays, morality plays
- operaaria, arias, soprano, tenor, baritone
- Theater Studiestheater history, theatre criticism, drama studies, dramaturgy, playwriting
Beijing operaItalian opera
Lyric drama from Rome's peninsula
German opera · grand opera · Broadway musical · bel canto · operetta
Beijing operaavant-garde performance
Innovative, norm-breaking staged work
experimental theater · contemporary dance · multimedia performance · performance art · modern dance
opera, Beijing, operas, operatic, operetta, opera house, Peking, Chinese opera, Peking opera