Young Peking Opera talents stage a revival of tradition

In early winter, the Peking Opera community welcomed a long-awaited program – the first conference for young Peking Opera actors, which officially debuted on CCTV-11 channel by the China Media Group (CMG) on November 9.

A total of 671 young Peking Opera actors from 62 theaters and institutions took part in the program, alongside 100 actors who took to the stage at CMG to showcase their talents.

In the episodes that have already been aired, fans were captivated by the performance skills of numerous young inheritors of Peking Opera who looked to demonstrate the profound richness of traditional Chinese culture through this revered theater art.

In terms of filming techniques, the program strived to capture the authenticity of live theater performances. Recognizing the inherent beauty of this stage art, the producers of the program decided not to edit out any flaws to ensure the true artistic skills of the actors were objectively presented to the audience – reflecting the sole criterion for the judges' evaluations.

Refined and polished over the ages, the repertoire of traditional Peking Opera interpreted by these young performers offered fans a chance to rediscover the essence of traditional Peking Opera art, and appreciate the vitality of this national art form that has been passed down over centuries.

What was even more noteworthy was the fact that the majority of the audience members attending the live recording were young people. From junior high school students at middle schools affiliated to the China National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, to master's students studying opera at Peking University, young enthusiasts turned out in force to appreciate Peking Opera and offer their professional critiques, illustrating how the charm of this "national trend" of Peking Opera is attracting new generations of followers.