Beijing - Does anybody REALLY like Chinese Opera?
 

Just came back from an Opera Presentation at the Beijing Opera House. I was fully aware of what I was to expect, so my NOT liking it did not come as a surprize.

I think it difficult that someone may actually enjoy it. On the other hand, in my youth I thought the same thing about beer.

I enjoyed looking at it. Since I'm virtually tone deaf I didn't find the music that much worse than any other opera, lol.

I enjoyed the one I saw. But I'm not an opera lover and wouldn't want a steady diet of it.

Yes, many people really like Peking opera and won't miss it for anything. That said, If I were invited to one on my travel, I probably would decline as I know I rather use the time for something else. In order to appreciate this ancient art form, you need to know something about the mask painting, what color stand for what, who is the good guy and what is the story. Some people love the elaborate costumes, the singing, the hand gestures, the choreography.............

It is painful beyond all belief, at least the "Peking Opera" that I saw. (And I am very much an aficionado of Western opera.)

In Peking opera, there is no story. There is no mise-en-scene. There is, however, a white-painted person who stands up and makes ungodly noises --- "CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE," "LEEEEEEEEEEE," and on and on and on and on and on and on and on. Now I'll admit that an ear accustomed to Western tonality might not instantly take to Eastern music, and the instruments on which it's played.

But this stuff was beyond the pale.

I saw it in the Opera Garnier in Paris, stuck in the middle of a row. It seemed like the first act went on for days. Never was I so happy to leave at intermission.

(Though the Chinese movie that came out 10 years ago or so about some men who trained to be Peking Opera singers wasn't bad. Anyone see it/recall the name?)

Rizzuto are you talking about "Farewell My Concubine?". If so, I think that film is a bit older than you think, as I believe it came out around '93 or '94.

I think Peking Opera is..perhaps an "acquired taste" for lack of a better term. It reminds me of Morticia singing in the old "Addams Family" TV series.

BC

"Farewell My Concubine" is a very intense and powerful movie with the late Leslie Cheung. Highly recommend it though you may want to know more about it before watching.

Ah, right, Farewell My Concubine. Agreed, not a standard Hollywood feel-good movie.

The only thing I knew about the movie was that Gong Li was in it; that was enough for me.

I love Chinese cinema, but have never seen an opera. What's not to like about Gong Li??? "Raise the Red Lanterns" -- superb!

When we were in HK two years ago, we didn't see an opera, but I would have liked to do so.

Check out "Lust, Caution."

I thought it was interesting. The costumes and makeup were more of a highlight for me than the music. Fortunately, I only had to sit through about 1.5 hours which was enough for me to get the idea of what it was.

If I am not mistaken, Farewell My Concubine referred to the love between a male diplomat envoy with the male opera singer who performed female parts.

In a closer examination of the tickets, it does seem to me that the female part of the opera we went to last night was also performed by a man. If indeed it was a man, he (or should I say she?) was very, very delicate, attractive and feminine.

Is it possible that women still do not act in the Chinese Operas?

If that was indeed a man who performed yesterday, I really need not wonder how it would be possible for a westerner male to have a crush on she..., he..., well... whatever...

> What's not to like about Gong Li???

Her politics.

Are we talking about Farewell My Concubine or M. Butterfly?

The one jfcarli has written of is indeed M Butterfly and is <i>not</i> Farewell My Concubine.

BC

Hmmm, the Opera performance I went to in Beijing had a storyline to it and I am pretty sure there were women performers. I will admit that the singing was not to my liking, however the makeup and costumes were interesting. I fell asleep during part of the performance (it had been a long day at the Great Wall and Ming Tombs Sacred Way), but I woke up just in time to see the female lead character using martial arts skills to fend off swords and other weapons that were being thrown at her. I found that part to be quite entertaining. I was glad I went and I might try it again!

Sara

It seemed that the old people will love it more.

Traditionally, men play all of the female roles in CHinese opera.

Kathie typed: <i>Traditionally, men play all of the female roles in Chinese opera.</i>

Well, maybe to the extent that men traditionally play all of the female roles in Shakespeare.

The performer I saw in the Peking Opera (in Paris) about 20 years ago was, to a reasonable certainty, female. She was interviewed on French TV (might have been <i>Apostrophe</i>, though I can't guarantee that), and, in her street clothes and maquillage, she very clearly presented herself and appeared to be female.

Article in yesterday's NY Times about Chinese opera:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/ar...eony.html?_r=1

Men played all of the roles in Chinese opera until the 1930s. Chinese operas are still sometimes staged with all male actors (as per the example above), but now more often, women play the female roles,

http://www.illuminatedlantern.com/ci...nese_opera.php

Since the 9th of June I have been communicating basically by fingerpointing and such fascinating dialogues as "Me, Tarzan. You Jane!"

Well, in reading my last post, I shamefully come accross the following pearl " ...for a westerner male to have a crush on she..., he..., well... whatever..."

I obviously meant "crush on her..., him..., well... whatever..."


On a different subject, it occurred to me that the Chinese Opera is probably older than the traditional western opera.

I wonder if "our" opera originated from the traditional Chinese Opera, just like fireworks and pasta.

> On a different subject, it occurred to me that the Chinese Opera is probably older than the traditional western opera.

Chinese opera is younger by centuries, and there is no connection with the West. And pasta probably originated in the Middle East and moved (as an idea) in two directions.

PeterN_H typed: <i>Chinese opera is younger [that Western opera] by centuries</i>

I have no clue about the origins of Chinese opera. As for Western opera, though, the music texts that I've read consider Monteverdi's <i>Orfeo</i>, written at the beginning of the 1600s, to be the first Western opera. Is Chinese opera really that much younger?

Peri and Caccini's 'La Favola d'Orfeo' predates Monteverde. Beijing is early 19th century, or at best late-18th, and (like Japan's kabuki, also relatively young) combines elements from earlier puppet theatre and other forms.

We went to the opera in Beijing last week and enjoyed it tremendously. We got to see some of the actors applying their make up which was interesting and the show itself was great.

I went a few years ago after having some drinks with friends. Tipsy and Chinese opera = not a good combination! Couldn't stop laughing...although i must say i was impressed with their make-up! Very very expressive performers that look like they are floating while they walk. I would recommend anyone to go see it once, just once...!