Chinese Opera

Chinese Opera    (повышенный уровень)

If you want to watch a performance that combines song, dance, and striking design, you should take a look at a truly original style of musical performance: Chinese Opera. Opera has a long history in China. In ancient times, actors performed the operas on the streets on temporary stages with only hanging lanterns for lighting. The actors used to wear bright colours to stand out in the dark.

The singing in Chinese Opera is quite strange – very sharp and high-pitched. The street performers used to sing that way so that their voices could carry over the crowds who gathered to watch. The actors don’t only tell the story through song; the dancing and acrobatics are fantastic, too. The actors use not only their faces but also their whole bodies to act out the story and show their emotions.

 There aren’t a lot of stage props or scenery because the actors use a lot of symbols to help tell the story. An actor galloping with a whip, for example, means they are running a horse. The actors’ make-up is incredible. Each colour has a special meaning and reveals something about their character; red means loyalty and bravery, black shows a warrior or a wild character, blue means cruelty and gold and silver means mystery. It must be breathtaking to see all the actors on stage together in their bright costumes and make-up. I don’t think that opera is for me, but I’d like to see a Chinese opera one day.

Chinese Opera    (базовый уровень)

 Opera has a long history in China. In ancient times, actors performed the operas on the streets on temporary stages with only hanging lanterns for lighting. The actors used to wear bright colours to stand out in the dark.

The singing in Chinese Opera is quite strange – very sharp and high-pitched. The street performers used to sing that way so that their voices could carry over the crowds. The actors don’t only tell the story through song; the dancing and acrobatics are fantastic, too. The actors use their faces and their whole bodies to act out the story and show their emotions.

 There aren’t a lot of stage props or scenery because the actors use a lot of symbols to help tell the story. An actor galloping with a whip, for example, means they are running a horse. The actors’ make-up is incredible. Each colour has a special meaning and reveals something about their character; red means loyalty and bravery, blue means cruelty and gold and silver means mystery. It is breathtaking to see all the actors on stage together in their bright costumes and make-up. I don’t think that opera is for me, but I’d like to see a Chinese opera one day.