Saving Chinese opera - 12 august 2008

The opera is a Chinese art form that almost did not survive the country's cultural revolution.

But it has survived for more than 150 years through the Beijing Opera which has integrated music, dance, literature and martial arts into a unique form of expression.

For its performers, the Olympics brings a chance to share their passion with a worldwide audience.

Hu Wenge, an opera artist, shares his one in a billion story with Al Jazeera.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• china
• olympics
• opera
• performer
• one
• in
• billion
• video
• voices
• aljazeera

[masyanto]

Anyway whether he is gay or not, we cannot verify, but whatever it is I like Beijing Opera and I love Chinese Culture.

[mistatt2]

All Chinese theater was performed by men for centuries because women were not allowed to perform in public. So to play the womans part someone had to be the woman. It was nothing "gay" about it. To portray a womans part and be beleavable was looked on with great respect. It's culture, it's beautiful, exotic and something that should be appreciated, not put down.

[fultonspring]

Beijing opera came from Kunqu opera, which has been 600 years history, not from korea, actually, I doubt that Korea has even similar opera, what Korea's culture is influenced by China for thousand years

[CradleofCrime]

@jadoretheater yes i agree with u. <3 opera ^_^

[gzc1102]

居然讲到了cultural revolution

[jadoretheater]

@mauricebiology If you're calling these performers geishas, then you're wrong. Geishas are Japanese. This is China. :) Please educate yourself before you tell others too.

[SongYihang]

Heh, women acting as men and men acting as women is an important element in Chinese Opera man! They are not "gay" in anyway!

[xlongwu]

@ahelano the castrato is different from the male chinese opera singer. What castrato can do is way beyond chinese opera. Hormone is a powerful thing!

[GuoBia]

This is a one in a billion story I'd say! I've always admired opera performers so much for all their arduous toil.

[adrianacristianes]

Fabulous! Thanks from Brazil!



[ahelano]

Mei Lan Fang was the best male Chinese opera singer who sang female voice. This is interesting because I just watched a film about the Castrato in Europe. The difference is that Chinese men don't have to go through this cruel procedure as the Castrato did. However, they are still able to sing those high notes. I feel so terrible for the Castrato because the sacrifice was really just too much. Overall, I admire those people who give their whole life for the love of Art.