Decoding Chinese Opera
presented by Jon Wai-keung Lowe
Saturday October 24, 2020
Classical Chinese drama, or opera, can be a challenge for the uninitiated. Many Western, and Chinese, audiences want to like it, but then get lost in the clashing gongs and cymbals.
This talk breaks down the conventions of staging, the visual cues, musical instruments, melodies, and rap ( ! ) that make this vibrant art form a UNESCO-recognized Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage.