Peking OperaⅥ

Watching a Performance
Above all else, the skill of performers is evaluated according to the beauty of their movements, which are symbolic and suggestive, rather than realistic. Performers also adhere to a variety of stylistic conventions that help audiences navigate the plot of the production. There are six main types of song lyrics in Beijing opera: emotive, condemnatory, narrative, descriptive, disputative, and "shared space, separate sensations" lyrics. Each type uses the same basic lyrical structure, differing only in kind and degree of emotions portrayed. To the novice laowai, the sounds emanating from the stage might resemble cats courting more than singing. It is an acquired taste. Costumes function to distinguish the rank of the character being played and generally feature brilliant colours and rich embroidery. If you have the photographic skills to capture movement and colour, a Beijing Opera performance will reward you with rich imagery.