Local Operas

China is a country with vast land and various nationalities. People in different regions speak different dialects. As a result, many local opera forms have appeared alongside Beijing Opera.

Statistics show that there are more than 360 types of local operas, of which the best-known are Pingju Opera, Yue or Shaoxing Opera, Yu or Henan Opera, Huangmei Opera, Guangdong Opera, and Sichuan Opera, etc.

Pingju Opera originated in Tangshan city, Hebei Province and is popular in Beijing, Tianjin, North and Northeast of China. Pingju Opera is lively, free in style and close to life. It is a perfect form to reflect the modern life. The best-known performers include Xiao Bai Yushuang and Xin Fengxia. The representative plays are Qin Xianglian, Small Son-in-Law and Liu Qiao’er, etc.

Yue or Shaoxing Opera originated in Shaoxing of Zhejiang Province and is popular in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Anhui provinces and Shanghai. At first, all of the performers are male. But since the 1930s, all the roles are played by female performers. The tunes of this opera are mild and roundabout, and the acting is meticulous. It became the second largest opera form next to Beijing Opera. Renowned performers include Yuan Xuefen, Wang Wenjuan and Xu Yulan. The representative plays are Butterfly lovers(or Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai), A Dream of Red MANSION, etc

Yu or Henan Opera is the local opera of Henan Province and prevalent in Henan and neighboring areas. Yu Opera is played with a bright , loud sound, alternating with sorrowful tone. There are about 650 traditional plays, of which Hua Mulan, Mu Guiying Takes Command, A Petty Official, etc. Are the most famous. Well-known performers include Chang Xiangyu, Ma Jinfeng and Niu Decao.

Huangmei Opera is the local opera of Anhui Province and is popular in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, and part of Hubei Province. This opera is characterized by dancing while singing. Its tunes are mild and pleasant, and its movements are natural and graceful. It is also very close to real life. Renowned performers include Yan Fengying and Ma Lan. The representative plays are Marrying a Fairy, Emperor’s Female Son- in –Law, The Cowherd and the Girl Weaver, etc..

Guangdong Opera is the local opera form of Guangdong Province and is also popular in Guangxi Province and southern Fujian Province. Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, America, Europe and Oceania, and the people of Hong Kong and Macao sars are also very fond of this type of local opera. Guangdong Opera is sung with the Cantonese dialect and is rather unique in its singing style. The best-known performers included Hong Xiannv and Ma Shizeng. The representative plays are Searching the Study, Guan Hanqing, etc.