Peking Opera Music

Description

Peking Opera music is a dramatic and expressive theatre style combining singing, percussion, string instruments, and stylized melodies. It supports storytelling, martial arts, dance, and symbolic character roles.

History

Peking Opera originated in Beijing during the late 18th century, merging earlier regional operas into a unified imperial court tradition. By the Qing dynasty, it became China’s most prestigious form of stage performance. Its music is defined by the jinghu fiddle, gongs, drums, and highly ornamented vocal lines. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, Peking Opera remains central to Chinese cultural identity and classical theatre.