Afternoon Tea at the Beijing Opera

"On the Beijing opera stage, every human sound uttered is song, and every movement is dance; realism is taboo and real-life objects are banned." In fascinating detail, jingju aficionado Chengbei Xu, examines the cultural and artistic themes of Beijing Op

This fascinating book examines the cultural and artistic themes of Beijing Opera in unprecedented detail. It is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in Beijing Opera: an art form which has gained an unprecedented following in both China and the West thanks to cultural performances, books, and motion pictures. But the world of Beijing Opera is still shrouded in mystery. With an expert eye, Chengbei Xu presents a dizzying array of details that only an experienced opera-goer can spot: themes and stories, characters, movement, makeup, props, action, voice, and music. A fascinating commentary as well as an indispensable reference, this book provides the definitive guide to what is arguably the pinnacle of Chinese performance art.