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Xi'an Shaanxi Opera



Shaanxi Opera (Chinqiang) is an ancient and traditional local opera prevailing in the northwest area of China. It is also the oldest of all the Chinese operas that are still existence today. Although there is no fully credible datum about its headstream, we can sure generally it was developed on the centre of Shaanxi and Guanzhong area. In the Zhou Dynasty, this area belonged to "Chin", so Shaanxi Opera gained its name "Chinqiang". During its long history, more than 4000 traditional programs have been accumulated, which outnumbers any other opera.

About its original time, different versions reveal different time including the Qin, Han, Tang, Jin, Ming and Qing Dynasty, but Tang most likely to be the answer. As per the historical data, Tang Xuanzong once set up a institute named "Liyuan" for performer training. Royal music and folk songs were taught there. The musician of Tang Dynasty composed a program "The First Qin Emperor Breaks through Round-ups" later called "Emperor Qin", or "Qin Opera", Poems in the Song Dynasty also posed their influence on Shaanxi Opera. Nowadays, the aria of Xipiliushui in Peking Opera is from Chinqiang.

Chinqiang is also called "Luantan". Its aria is loud and sonorous and infuriation, which is more local yodeling than other opera. Falsetto is not used in this performance. The type of singing originated in the fields and countryside surrounding Xi'an when locals who used to shout to one another across the fields gradually developed a system of song to make the communication. Its role can be divided into over 10 kinds including Pantaloon, Zhengdan, Xiaodan, Huadan, Wudan, Meidan, Laosheng, Xusheng, Xiaosheng, Dajing, Maojing, Choujue,etc. The instruments accompaniment played in the performance are diversiform such as ersian, panhu, urheen, bamboo flute, sanxian, sese, dulcimer, suona, pipe, sousaphone, cymbal, gong, different drums, small cymbal, clapper...... Chinqiang is disparted two distributaries. One inflooded into Sichuan shaped Chuan Opera. The Eastern distributary came into being Shanxi Opera, Henan Opera, Hebei Bangzi. Compared with Peking Opera, there are some sideshows during the performance, for instance, the beard performance, flame spitting, fire blow-out, trampling and jumping performance, chair rotating, spear performance, fire stick performance......unassailably, you will be shocked by these stunts if you watch the opera.

Major House

Changan Grand Theatre
Add: Xiyi Road, Xicheng District, Xi'an City