Getting to know Peking Opera
February 26, 2010 Filed under Travel
By Zhang Dongya
Spring Festival, which ends with the Lantern Festival this Sunday, is a peak season for Peking Opera – a time when the spotlight shines on plays like TheDragon and Phoenix, The Return of the Phoenix to the Nest and The Best Scholar’s Matchmaking.
The best way to learn about Peking Opera, a cultural treasure, is to watch a performance or to join a one-day Peking Opera tour, which includes a visit to the memorial of Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), one of the greatest Peking Opera performers. Visitors will also be taken backstage where performers rehearse, apply makeup and reveal secrets of the classic art.
A scene from the classic Red Haired Galloping Horse shown at the China National Peking Opera Theater. CFP Photo
Four attractions
The Peking Opera tour was first offered last May by the China National Peking Opera Theater and Beijing Leader Travel Service. The package features four attractions: the Beijing Costume Factory, the Mei Lanfang Memorial, the China National Peking Opera Theater and a play at Changhe Yuan, a small experimental theater inside the China National Peking Opera Theater.
The first stop, the Beijing Costume Factory, is the country’s biggest manufacturer of costumes and accessories for stage, film and television. Established 50 years ago, its products are still hand-made, using traditional techniques. Tourists will be takento its workshop to see how Peking Opera costumes are made.
The Meilanfang Memorial, or the Former Residence of Mei Lanfang, is a courtyard home located on Huguosi Street, Xicheng District. Mei bought the yard in 1950 and spent the last 10 years of his life there. The house, which has been open to the public since 1986, showcases costumes and props that the opera star once used. It also displays Mei’s calligraphic works, drawings and te souvenirs he collected.
The Memorial is currently closed for renovations, so the cost of this sightseeing trip will be deducted from the package.
Visitors stop for lunch on Huguosi, where they can sample local delicacies like noodle with soy bean paste and instant-boiled mutton.
The Peking Opera Costume Exhibition showcases dozens of life-size was statues of opera characters. Photos by Sherry WuA stunt coordinator demonstrates to visitors the use of props.
The tour’s highlight comes in the afternoon: a visit to the China National Peking Opera Theater, tantamount to a museum of PekingOpera. Some tour operators only visit this site to save time.
Meilanfang Memorial CFP Photo
The Theater was founded in 1955 with Mei Lanfang as president. It is currently home to 300 performers in three troupes.
On the eighth floor is Changhe Yuan, a performance hall and the country’s lone small experimental theater for Peking Opera. Unlike average theaters that seat 800, Changhe Yuan has only 216 seats, which are removable so that the stage aea can be extended.
In ancient times, the rich invited troupes to perform in their private theaters located in their courtyards. Changhe Yuan was built just like these small, private theaters.
The hall has excellent acoustics; microphones are set up around the stage to guarantee full, rich sound. Peking Opera aficionados say Changhe Yuan’s acoustics ae the best in Beijing. The pillars inside are decorated with centuries-old hand-drawn patterns.
A stunt coordinator will demonstrate the use of some props and teach those who are interested in taking a turn with them.
Visitors could put on a costume and have their picture taken.
The Beijing Costume Factory produces hand-made costumes and accessories for the stage, using traditional techniques. Photo provided by Beijing Leader Travel Service
Shanell Tote on Wed, 2nd Mar 2011 1:43 am
That may seem excellent but i’m still not too certain that I prefer it. Regardless will look further into it and choose personally!