Ping Opera


Ping Opera is very popular in Beijing, Tianjin, North and Northeast China. It has a history of more than 70 years. Developing out of LianhuaLuo, a kind of story- singing in the east of Hebei Province, it borrowed the tunes and acting style of Peking Opera, Hebei Bangzi Opera, shadow shows and drum melody, and developed its own style. Since moving from the rural areas into the cities, it has produced many new programmes influenced by modern drama and Peking Opera. Its specializes in reflecting urban dwellers' life with easily-understood text, speech-like tunes, clear articulation and the richness of everyday life. At first, female characters in Ping Opera were dominant and their tunes were beautiful and touching, while the male tunes were quite simple. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the male arias have been greatly developed and there are many new plays in which male characters play the lead roles. Xin Fengxia is one of the representative performers of the opera.


The following is a list of famous synopses of Ping Opera. Child Husband(Xiao Nuxu): Set in the early 1950s, this opera tells the story of Yang Xiangcao, a young woman in Yangjia Village, who is engaged to Tian Xi, Yang's father forces her to marry Luo Changfang, the 11-year-old son of Widow Luo, just for Luo's generous betrothal gifts. Yang and Tian sue Yang's father in the county court. The judge awards Yang a divorce and she and Tian finally get married.

Empresses, The(Jiemei Huanghou): This opera is about conflicts within a royal family in the Liang Dynasty (502-557 AD). The Liang Emperor, who is over 70, wants to crown a prince, and Prime Minister Lu Hao recommends that he choose Xiao Xun, the emperor's eldest son. But Empress Bi doesn't agree, since Xiao Xun is the offspring of an imperial concubine. The empress wants her own son Xiao Ying to ascend the throne so that she may hold court from behind a screen. The ensuing clashes make for entertaining opera.

Flowers as the Keepsake(Hua Wei Mei): Wang Junqing meets his cousin Li Yue's at his father's birthday party and is attracted by Li's beauty. But Li's father opposes the consanguous marriage. Zhang Wuke, a pretty young woman, is willing to marry Wang Junqing but Wang refuses. Matchmaker Ruan arranges a meeting between Wang Junqing and Zhang Wuke. Wang asks his brother Junqing to meet Zhang on his behalf. Zhang and Junying fall in love with each other at first sight. The opera has a happy ending as Wang Junqing marries Li Yue's and Junying marries Zhang Wuke.



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