The unique of Peking Opera

Peking Opera is unique, bearing no similarity to western opera - neither in culture, language, music nor staging. The most fundamental difference is in the approach: Western opera is realistic, whereas Peking Opera is symbolic.

Unlike theaters in the West, the stage in Chinese opera is not hidden behind a large, heavy curtain. It is only when an actor appears and recites the first lines of his monolog that the audience recognizes his character. This is because Chinese operas are based on familiar folktales and legends that are known by everyone. The acting, not the staging, is paramount in Chinese opera.