Beijing Opera
Performance art and musical drama are deeply rooted in
Chinese tradition. Though performers were once widely
regarded as the lowest class in ancient China, a plethora of
schools of traditional operas and dramatic arts have
transcended time and still attract large audiences in the
present People's Republic. The most widely known and
influential is, of course, Beijing Opera, or jing ju, which
originated over two hundred years ago and is a synthesis of
grace, voice, discipline, and physical agility. Over the
course of history, contrary to its name, Beijing Opera has
incorporated musical melodies from operas throughout China.
The Vocal Art of Chinese Beijing Opera
Beijing Opera is a performing art unique in its aesthetic
achievement. Though Beijing Opera is a combination of many
aspects of the performing art, vocal art is its most
essential part. It can be said with certainty that without
vocal art there is no opera. The singing of both male and
female roles is diverse and expressive, giving vent to their
innermost feelings and emotions. It has an enchanting
artistic appeal.
The Vocal Art of Chinese Beijing Opera comprises some
283 excellent arias sung by more than 120 eminent Beijing
Opera artists over the period from 1910 to the 1980s. Among
them were Tan Xinpei, Yang Xiaolou, Yu Shuyan and
Mei Lanfang. This collection, which represents the
top-level vocal art of Beijing Opera, not only meets the
need for entertainment, but is of great value to scholars in
the history of Beijing Opera.
With pieces depicting the whole history and literary
tradition of China and even some tales brought from the
West, Beijing Opera transited from an art reserved for
royalty to a popular form of entertainment and art for
people on all levels of society. At least one Beijing Opera
troupe will base itself in almost every Chinese province.
Beijing and Tianjin are regarded as the hotspots in the
north and Shanghai in the south.
Modern Beijing Opera
As did most other traditional arts, Beijing Opera
stagnated during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).
Long-established pieces were purged while the well-known
Eight Model Plays, documenting revolutionary activities
during the Second Sino-Japanese War, communist action
against the Nationalists in the Civil War with the
Nationalists, and class struggle with the founding of the
People's Republic were cultivated. Nevertheless, Beijing
Opera was still held as a national standard. Today, legends
of heroes and the supernatural and stories dealing with the
Communist Revolution and historical events of the recent
past are shown.
Since 1978, Beijing Opera has largely lost out to the
younger generation and rise of popular entertainment. Its
audience comprises of elder people, who were young at the
height of the art. There are movements to restore this and
other performance arts. The Chinese Opera journal sponsors
the Plum Blossom Award for artists younger than 45 years old
who perform on the Beijing stage. A "Beijing Opera Month" is
held in China and there are many competitions for young
performers through the China Central Television (CCTV).
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首届中国京剧艺术节（1995年11月17日至24日）：《曹操与杨修》被评为艺术节唯一的金奖，《徐九经升官记》获银奖，《石龙湾》等获铜奖。
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第二届中国京剧艺术节（1998年12月30日至1999年1月10日）：《骆驼祥子》和《风雨同仁堂》双获金奖；《狸猫换太子》、《法门众生相》、《钟馗》、《乌纱记》等获优秀剧目奖。
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第三届中国京剧艺术节（2001年12月2日至16日）：获金奖的剧目是《贞观盛事》、《华子良》、《胭脂河》、《洛神赋》和《瘦马御史》等五台；《金·断·雷》和《膏药章》荣获优秀保留剧目创新奖。
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第四届中国京剧艺术节（2004年12月3日至15日）：《廉吏于成龙》、《泸水彝山》、《梅兰芳》获金奖。优秀保留剧目创新奖：《楚宫恨》、《乌龙院》。
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第五届中国京剧艺术节（2008年10月20日至11月7日）：获得本届艺术节新编历史剧一等奖的9台剧目分别是《成败萧何》、《北风紧》、《郑和下西洋》、《下鲁城》、《晋德裕》、《护国将军》、《白洁圣妃》、《丝路花雨》、《辛弃疾》。获现代戏一等奖的分别是《飘逸的红纱巾》、《吉庆街生活秀》、
《红沙河》、《铁道游击队》、《驼哥与金兰》等5个剧目。获得整理改编剧目一等奖的3个剧目分别是《风雨杏黄旗》、《宝莲灯》、《孙安动本》。
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